3.1 National defence and mutual security assurances A responsive and effective national defence is the cornerstone of a sovereign state in ensuring its security and defence. It reflects credibility in assuming a proportionate share of the burden and risks in relation to the European Union and NATO. The most important element of national defence is sufficient investment in the development of the national defence capacity based on the national planning priorities, NATO's defence planning process, and defence planning within the European Union. The Republic of Slovenia will ensure its defence capacity and its preparedness for and responsiveness to military and other threats. This includes the appropriate size, structure, equipment, and capabilities of its military and civilian defence capacity. National defence is based on the implementation of military defence and on the implementation of measures to ensure the resilience of society as a whole. The implementation of the military defence of the Republic of Slovenia will, as a matter of priority, be ensured by respecting the mechanisms of mutual assistance and solidarity within the European Union, and by an appropriate level of Slovenia’s own defence capacity, which is the basis for effective integration into NATO’s collective defence system. As a member of NATO, the Republic of Slovenia receives security assurances and accepts commitments, since NATO's collective defence is based on a sufficient range of the Allies' national capabilities. Involvement in the collective defence system allows for a more rational development of Slovenia’s own defence capacity. Strengthening the national defence means strengthening the collective defence and vice versa, based on burden sharing and the development of agreed capabilities. A responsive and effective national defence is the cornerstone of a sovereign state in ensuring security and defence National defence of the RS Building defence capacity while respecting the principle of burden sharing NATO’s collective defence and mutual assistance within the EU The Republic of Slovenia has committed itself to a gradual long-term approximation to a defence spending target of 2% of GDP within broad fiscal frameworks, and a defence investment share of 20% of defence spending, with an intermediate target of 1.5% of GDP by 2024. 11