Budget committee backs increase in Czech defence spending

The Czech Parliament’s budget committee has approved a proposal by Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura (Civic Democratic Party) to allow defence spending to exceed the current 2% of GDP limit through 2033, even beyond the approved budgetary framework. The plan, supported by the ruling coalition and opposition ANO Party, aims to gradually raise defence spending to at least 3% of GDP by 2030. The extra spending won’t count toward expenditure caps set by fiscal responsibility laws. Stanjura assured that the plan won’t breach EU deficit or debt thresholds. ANO Party supported the increase but raised concerns over current defence spending priorities.