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Wassila Hachchi (Picture: Wikimedia Commons/Bart Rietveld)
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Wassila Hachchi (Picture: Wikimedia Commons/Bart Rietveld)
Wednesday, 26 August 2015 - 14:13
MP: Military involved in too many events
D66 Parliamentarian Wassila Hachchi wants to have a critical look at the balance between the Dutch army's tasks and the Defense budget, as it seems that the army is not capable to perform all its tasks because of a money shortage.
On Tuesday Nieuwsuur reported that the Royal Army is cutting the budget for the 3,600 reservists, who among other things, are active at events and support the National Army. The use of these reservists will be limited due to financial problems. This is based on leaked documents that Nieuwsuur managed to get its hands on. The documents show that the army is unable to meet its obligations in the Netherlands due to a budget shortage.
Hachchi thinks it is time to take a good look at the balance between the army's budget and obligations. "If we want the armed forces to continue to do everything, it should get more money", she said to BNR, though added that "ultimately it is about how we spend the defense money." She wants the money to be spent effectively by looking at what exactly is expected from the armed forces.
The Parliamentarian thinks that the armed forces should look to Germany and Belgium to see how they divide their tasks. "You can see what tasks our European partners do well, and based on that, make your choices on what tasks we can focus on."