In Parliament, during the committee debate on the 2026 Budget rebalance, Finance Minister Gordana Dimitrieska-Kochoska said in her presentation that public finances remain stable, revenues are moving in line with expectations, and spending is focused on implementing legal obligations and priority development policies.

According to her, the vast majority of revenue is secured through regular economic activity. Tax revenues reached 96.7 billion denars, of which 43.3 billion denars came from VAT, accounting for around 44.7% of total tax revenues. A total of 17.5 billion denars was collected from personal income tax, 13.8 billion denars from profit tax, and 13.9 billion denars from excise duties.

The data show that revenues from personal income tax increased by 11.7%, those from profit tax by 14.5%, VAT by 16.4%, while import customs duties rose by 8.3%.

The minister stressed that these developments indicate the continuity of economic activity, the functioning of companies, wage growth, and more efficient revenue collection, alongside a reduction in the grey economy.

In the same period, social contributions, as an essential source of financing for the pension and healthcare systems, reached 58.8 billion denars, or 7.5% more than last year.

As for expenditures, budget execution reached 205.9 billion denars, with a focus on the regular fulfillment of legal obligations toward citizens and the economy.

A total of 1.2 billion denars was paid out for refunds from the solidarity tax. Some 58.1 billion denars was allocated for pensions, 25.5 billion denars for healthcare, and 7.6 billion denars for social protection. Meanwhile, municipalities received 15.1 billion denars through block grants, as well as an additional 2.4 billion denars from VAT.

In the first half of the year, the state settled all obligations to domestic and foreign creditors. A total of 12 billion denars was paid in interest, while 60.7 billion denars went toward principal repayments, which, according to the minister, is important for maintaining the confidence of investors and international financial institutions.

She underlined that financial discipline and the regular settlement of obligations continue to be a priority.

Capital expenditures for this period reached 19.4 billion denars, marking annual growth of 53.5%. These funds were directed toward infrastructure, schools, kindergartens, healthcare facilities, energy, and local development. A total of 6.3 billion denars was spent on Corridors 8 and 10-d, while 2.1 billion denars was allocated to municipal infrastructure projects.

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The Ministry of Finance said that it has completed eight steps, out of the total 22 steps fulfilled by the country, which has led to the approval of 142.1 million euros under the Reform Agenda.

These positions were highlighted by Finance Minister Gordana Dimitrieska-Kochoska at a working meeting with the ambassadors of the European Union member states, which was dedicated to the implementation of the Reform Agenda and the country’s priorities in the European integration process. She assessed that the Reform and Growth Instrument represents a crucial impetus for changes that will strengthen public institutions, advance management, encourage economic growth and accelerate the country’s path toward membership in the European Union.

The minister also underlined that the European Commission’s support for the country’s reform efforts, through regular monitoring meetings and the provision of technical assistance, helps advance key policy areas.

As part of the Reform Agenda, the Ministry of Finance has fulfilled the step related to strengthening public internal financial control. According to the ministry, the adoption of the Law on Public Internal Financial Control has ensured full harmonization with international standards and EU principles.

In addition, more than 80% of budget users at the central level and 75% at the local level submit reports on completed internal audits. Meanwhile, more than 70% of primary budget users at the central level have prepared a risk management document, including corruption risk, while identified risks are recorded in plans for their mitigation.

The statement also highlights progress in advancing the public procurement system. Specifically, the use of auctions for procurement during fiscal year 2025 has been reduced to a maximum of 40% of procurements, meeting the projected target for the use of e-auctions. Moreover, their share remains below the maximum threshold set in the Reform Agenda, contributing to greater transparency, competition and efficiency.

Progress has also been recorded in the implementation of the Law on Budgets, as well as in deepening reforms in public investment management. Following the adoption of the Regulation on Public Investment Management, the Ministry of Finance drafted and published guidelines for the preparation of feasibility studies and the Manual for the public investment management process. Training was also conducted for employees in the public sector on their implementation. The final priority list of public investment projects was approved by this committee in May 2026, while the next step remains its approval by the Government.

The ministry also said that a temporary IT solution has been developed, supplemented with data from approved project concepts and monitoring reports. In this way, a centralized database has been created that includes both projects under implementation and new projects at the national level, supporting the selection of candidate budget projects and the monitoring of their financial implementation.

During the past period, within the framework of the Reform Agenda, all 17 by-laws envisaged under the Law on Budgets have been adopted.

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According to her, this intervention is linked to the increased need to finance capital investments. At the same time, adjustments will also be made on the revenue side, especially in excise taxes, due to the measures taken on fuel in response to the crisis.

Asked about the cost of the measures, including the reduction of VAT and excise taxes on fuel, the minister said that excise taxes should be adjusted by around 1.5 billion denars. However, she stressed that at the moment it is difficult to make precise calculations.

“The thing I can say at this moment is that we will have a certain upward correction of the budget deficit and for the first time we will have an increase in the budget deficit as a result of the increased need to finance capital expenditures, namely capital investments, which I think, in accordance with the Budget Law, justifies the situation.

And at the same time, we also have certain corrections on the revenue side, in the excise tax segment, because of all those measures we had in the previous period,” Gordana Dimitrieska-Kochoska stated.

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