Budget revision favors the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Transport, with more than 170 million euros in additional spending

The state will have 179 million euros in additional spending compared with the initial plan, following the latest budget revision. According to the institutions, the priority in this intervention has been capital investments and infrastructure projects.

Under the new changes, total revenues are projected to rise from 374.9 billion denars to 379.2 billion denars, while expenditures will reach 425.2 billion denars. The budget deficit is widening from 39.2 billion denars to 46.1 billion denars, but will still remain at 4.1 percent of Gross Domestic Product. The vast majority of the additional funds have been directed toward capital expenditures, which are increasing by 5.8 billion denars to reach 46 billion denars.

The two institutions receiving the largest share of the additional funds are the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, with 2.3 billion denars more, mainly for water supply systems, sewage networks and environmental infrastructure, as well as the Ministry of Transport, with approximately 1.4 billion denars.

These funds will be used for the construction of Corridors 8 and 10-e, the Skopje-Blace highway, the Corridor 8 railway, water supply and sewage systems, water treatment plants, energy efficiency projects, as well as for the construction and reconstruction of educational facilities, student dormitories and infrastructure in rural areas.

The Ministry of Education will also have an additional 426 million denars at its disposal, while other funds have also been earmarked for healthcare, the SEC, agricultural subsidies, student and pupil standards, sports and social protection.

Coverage of the budget deficit and liabilities for debt repayment, with a total value of 76.4 billion denars, will be carried out through domestic and external borrowing. Of this amount, more than 54 billion denars have been earmarked to meet obligations to foreign creditors, while around 20 billion denars will go toward repaying domestic debt.