Another NATO Recognition for Hungary

NATO’s Resource Policy and Planning Board (RPPB) decided on a February 17 meeting that as of September 2011, the Hungarian field officer will chair the committee, which has a budget of 875 million euros this year.

“Complemented with the balances, the actual total amount reaches almost one billion euros," told us LTC Dr. Erika Antal, adding that the Investment Committee is responsible for the management and financing of NATO’s Security Investment Program (NSIP). “Aimed at joint capability development within NATO, the NSIP consists of two parts: strategic capability development involves NATO-related investments in all 28 member states, from air base and radar systems development to air command and control systems. The other component is operational investment, which means the development of common capabilities required in missions, since there is a need for runways, CIS equipment and a number of other capabilities in Afghanistan or Kosovo as well," said Erika Antal.

The lieutenant-colonel has been working on the staff of the Hungarian NATO delegation in Brussels since 2007, representing the interests of Hungary in the aforementioned RPPB. The Investment Committee and the Budget Committee responsible for the management of the operating budget both report to the RPPB. During those years LTC Antal established excellent working relationships with her foreign colleagues and is fluent in English and French, which must have been a great advantage when her appointment was under consideration. “In addition, we, Hungarians, have always supported rational solutions as opposed to extreme standpoints: some states argue for an unlimited increase of common-funded budgets, while others for a freezing of these budgets, regardless of the consequences. We prefer a balanced approach," said Erika Antal, adding that her appointment is not only about her, as it is a recognition for the Hungarian Defence Forces and indirectly, for Hungary, considering that the decision was preceded by establishing contact with NATO member states on state secretary-level and a campaign led by the leaders of Hungary’s foreign representations. The decision is also highly symbolic because since 1999, none of the resource committees have been chaired by a soldier of a ‘new’ member state.

“Hungary contributes less than 1 per cent of the funds managed by the Committee; until now, I have been responsible for that amount, and from now on, I will also be responsible for the remaining 99 per cent," the lieutenant-colonel gave us an example to show the responsibility she will have as of September. “I have been representing Hungarian projects at the committee meetings. Now, in addition to chairing the committee meetings, I will also have to attend many meetings in the background, and get countries with opposing standpoints to the negotiating table in order to find solutions based on compromise, so that the program can fulfill its role in NATO capability development process. In addition, I have some other responsibilities related to the position, for example the chair of the committee is generally expected to represent the NSIP in NATO-organized or external forums, and hold presentations in resource management courses run by NATO."