CHAPTER 3 The Future Defence Efforts of the Slovak Republic Defence efforts of the Slovak Republic express the will and clear determination of the State to maintain its defences. They reaffirm the guarantees to the citizens of the Slovak Republic that national defence will be assured and they express the guarantee to its Allies that the Slovak Republic will honour its commitments. At the same time, it is a message to potential adversaries about the credibility of the Slovak Republic in ensuring national defence. The scope and character of defence efforts is determined by security interests, aims and tasks of Slovak defence policy as stated in strategies, by legislation, international commitments and by related political decisions of decision-makers. These, in reaction to the scope and character of threats posed to the Slovak Republic and her Allies, determine the specific aims and measures of national defence, including the appropriate level of national resources allocated to national defence and the ways in which they are spent. 3.1 The Basis of Defence Efforts 67) The core of the defence efforts of the Slovak Republic will be to ensure national defence as a basic condition of national existence and the security of its citizens, by means of national defence capacities, collective defence through NATO and tools provided by the Common Security and Defence Policy of the EU. National defence, including the strengthening of its defence capacities, are among the priorities of the Government. Consistently meet the national responsibility for defence 40 68) The defence efforts of the Slovak Republic will be based on the national responsibility for defence as enshrined in the constitutional framework of the Slovak Republic. It states that „the defence of the Slovak Republic is a duty and a question of honour of citizens”, while „the Government of the Slovak Republic is responsible for national defence and security“. The Slovak Republic will enhance its ability to defend itself by developing its individual and collective capacity to resist armed attack, which will also strengthen the defence potential of NATO and the military capabilities of the EU. WHITE PAPER ON DEFENCE