Executive Summary Key results of the implementation of the White Paper on Defence of the Slovak Republic The White Paper on Defence of the Slovak Republic (2013) evaluated the condition of national defence in a comprehensive manner and provided a politico-strategic framework of its long-term development, the gradual implementation of which was begun. The implementation of this document was influenced by a fundamental change in the security environment and by corresponding measures taken at the national level, as well as at the NATO and the EU levels. In this context the key results of its implementation are as follows: • the process of updating the strategic and conceptual framework of national defence has begun, • the level of defence spending in real terms as well as in relation to the national GDP has been stabilised and started to grow, decisions have been taken to manage allocated resources more effectively, • conditions have been created to retain highly qualified military personnel and to foster the long-term sustainability of the specialised social welfare system of professional soldiers, the nominal military personnel strength of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (AF SR) has been increased along with the actual number of professional soldiers, • the largest Air Force armament projects in the history of independent Slovakia have been launched, the effects of which will be seen in the coming years, • the spectrum of capabilities of the AF SR has been maintained, the overall level of their interoperability according to NATO standards has not changed significantly. These and other measures have prevented the loss of some capabilities and created the conditions for a reboot of the AF SR transformation process. The level of providing national defence remains, however, under the negative sway of: • the condition of national defence management, • a marked long-term imbalance between tasks and allocated resources, • the ineffectiveness of the defence planning system and a lack of interconnectedness of strategic aims, programming priorities, budget and procurement, • a lower level of readiness of the AF SR, particularly as a result of - under-manning of AF SR units, - restrictions on AF SR training, - the fact that most major military equipment is obsolete, have a low level of serviceability and parameters unfit for both the modern battlefield and for interoperability with allied forces, • a lag in AF SR capability development, • AF SR stockpile deficits, • the bad technical condition and obsolescence of infrastructure managed by the Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic (MoD). Key measures • increasing the ability to defend the Slovak Republic: - consistently live-up to the responsibilities of the Slovak Republic concerning its defence, - deepen the synergy of individual and collective capacity to resist armed attack, 10 WHITE PAPER ON DEFENCE