PROGRAM OF GOVERNMENT 2017-2020 Defense policy under NATO auspices The defense sector was a front-runner of all reform activities pursued in the Republic of Macedonia in view of attaining the country’s strategic goal – membership in NATO. Despite being the initiator and leader in the Adriatic Group, the Republic of Macedonia is the only group member still not in NATO. Membership in NATO will be reinstated as Macedonia’s top priority. NATO has been Macedonia’s strategic commitment and a consensual goal of all its citizens. We will remain committed to the fundamental principles of maintaining the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and unitary character, keeping its stability and security as well as its participation in collective defense systems. Membership in NATO is more than maintaining the country’s security and stability. It is the basis and precondition for economic development and unhindered flow of foreign investments. The Government approach will include serious reforms of the security system and apparatus following NATO’s Strategic Concept for Development 2010-2020. The Republic of Macedonia’s contribution and participation in NATO, EU and UN missions will remain the highest priority. We will reaffirm the participation of Republic of Macedonia’s military potential in NATO operations for prevention and resolution of conflicts around the world. This will make the country a stability factor in Southeastern Europe. The Government of the Republic of Macedonia will adopt a new approach to financing security and defense. We will focus on development of deployable and sustainable capabilities and interoperability expected of a future NATO member. Following the Long-term Defense Development Plan, we will increase defense spending to 2.3-2.6% of GDP. The amounts will be allocated successively, in accordance with the economic power and progress of the country in the upcoming period. Use of allocated resources will be an imperative, as will the full implementation of the Planning, Programming and Budgeting System (PPBS). We will conform to the originally projected methodology for distribution of resources according to pre-designed budget categories, i.e. 50% for personnel, 30% for operations, training and maintenance and 20% for equipment and modernization of ARM. We will provide the financial framework and necessary resources for satisfying and increasing the costs for our missions abroad in accordance to NATO’s “smart defense” concept, NATO’s Strategic Concept 2010 and NATO’s Summit Wales Recommendations 2014. The Government will support a small and professional army in view of creating a common, incorporated staff structure between ARM and Ministry of Defense personnel. All changes will be done based on a comprehensive functional analysis in view of guaranteeing efficiency of tasks, duties, functions and responsibilities, the prerequisite for a quality system of civilian control of the Army. We will dedicate all efforts toward full de-partization of the Army and the Ministry of Defense by setting up an efficient system of human resources management based on professionalization of the personnel. The main pillar in this regard is increasing the standard of employees, motivation and personnel appeal. A key priority in the area of personnel management is the adoption of the long-neglected career development concept, which aims at setting up a pyramidal structure of military personnel. 16