The government has revised this year's budget for the second time. Almost all institutions have been stripped of funds. This money has been spent on protection against cyber attacks, small businesses, and projects supported by the European Union.
The review comes as a need to guarantee the most efficient use of public funds, which came after a careful analysis that was made regarding the 5-month performance of the implementation of the projects, as well as the assessment of expectations for their further realization. The volume of general funds that are expected to be allocated or reallocated is estimated at around 11.8 billion lek and the focus will be on supporting priority sectors, but also on further promoting public investments.
Ministry of Finance
For the second half of the year, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection will have more money available. The funds at its disposal have been expanded by over 965 million lekë compared to the last budget review, at the end of April.
The government has also increased the budget of the Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organized Crime by 570 million lek. From less than 1.8 billion lek with the budget amendment on April 29, the SPAK budget has increased to over 2.3 billion lek. 1.5 billion lek has been added to the Albanian Development Fund, while almost 5 billion lek to “digital governance”.
Reallocation of identified savings of 5.6 billion lek, in order to ensure the strengthening of digital security and support for sustainable economic growth, through the improvement of national infrastructure. Approval of a new Sovereign Guarantee scheme for the agricultural sector, with a value of about 3 billion lek, in order to increase access to finance, mainly for small and medium-sized enterprises, but also to create conditions for increasing production capacities and competitiveness. Reallocation of some internal funds, in the context of improvements in information technology in public administration.
Ministry of Finance
In fact, the agricultural sector has been deprived of 21 million lek. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy and the Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation are the two institutions that have had the most money taken away, 4.9 and 4.5 billion lek, respectively. The Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs will also have less money for the second half of the year.
Despite this review, an important element to highlight is that the budget deficit remains unchanged, at around 68.1 billion lekë and, consequently, the public debt does not change. The Ministry of Finance will continue to ensure fiscal consolidation, the sustainability of public finances, as well as macroeconomic stability as a whole.
Ministry of Finance
With the changes in the budget, it has increased to 4.2 from 3 billion lek, which was the state budget reserve fund. (A2 Televizion)
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