Spain's headline defence budget in 2015 is set to rise for first time in seven years, with a 1% gain to EUR5.71 billion (USD7.2 billion).
According to figures presented to parliament on 30 September, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) will receive about EUR57 million in additional funding, in contrast with reduced spending at key ministries such as employment and development.
But the rise has already been criticised by left-wing parties, which have pointed out that each year the government approves extra payments for the MoD, mainly to cover outstanding debts on re-equipment programmes ordered before the economic crisis struck.
Having peaked in 2008 at EUR8.49 billion, the declared defence budget had fallen each year since.
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