Skopje, 9 October 2024 (MIA) -- The Ministry of Defense's 2025 budget will be higher and 37 percent of it will go to modernizing the Army, which is seven percent more money than was set aside for military spending in 2024, according to Defense Minister Vlado Misajlovski.

Misajlovski told a press conference Wednesday that the Ministry of Defense proposed spending 2.4 percent of the country's GDP on defense.

"A higher budget means greater investments in defense capacities and in new, modern equipment in line with NATO standards," he said.

The defense minister said 73 percent of the 2024 defense budget had been spent through Oct. 1.

At the moment, he said, several projects to modernize the army were under way, including procedures for the procurement of light utility vehicles, armored personnel carriers, anti-aircraft equipment, and helicopters.

"Two weeks ago," Misajlovski said, "we received an assistance measure worth EUR 13 million under the European Peace Facility."

He said the assistance measure would provide support on technologies related to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic warfare and signal intelligence, logistics and engineering equipment, communication and information systems as well as technical training as appropriate.

He added that the two Mi-8 and Mi-17 helicopters, after being repaired, would be put into service again in November.

Speaking at the press conference held to mark the government's first 100 days in power, the defense minister also said over 300 army members had taken part in fighting the wildfires across the country this summer and would be financially rewarded for their efforts. mr/