Ministries and independent institutions in Latvia all together have requested EUR 2.233 billion in funding for 2023, according to the report submitted by the Ministry of Finance on ministries’ and other central state institutions’ priorities for 2023, 2024 and 2025 reviewed on Thursday, the 22nd of December.
Additional funding requests for 2024 is EUR 2.992 billion and for 2025 – EUR 3.043 billion.
On Thursday the government reviewed the report on the activities planned by ministries and other central state institutions for 2023, 2024 and 2025. The report includes information about priorities planned by these institutions and a schedule for their implementation.
Ministries and other institutions submitted a total of 436 applications detailing various priorities to the Ministry of Finance and Cross-Sectoral Coordination Centre (PKC).
When looking at requests from ministries and independent institution, the Ministry of Finance concluded that
funding requests from independent institutions are relatively small and reach on average 1.3% of all received financing requests.
Because the available fiscal space is much lower than the requests for funding, ministries are invited to reassess their priorities and focus on ones that cannot be postponed. At the same time, institutions are invited to consider implementing priorities within the existing budget’s borders and submit more fiscally neutral requests.
During a press-conference after an extraordinary meeting of the government Minister of Finance Arvils Ašeradens said the new government spent a lot of time on the government declaration in which they listed transformation of the economy as the main priority. This is why the minister predicts only the priorities focused on this transformation will be supported.
«Coalition partners do not have any major disputes about priorities. We have to work realistically in order to progress forward,» said Ašeradens.
According to the approved budget preparation schedule for next year and medium-term budget for 2023-2025, the government is to reach an agreement by the 13th of January.
The total requests from independent institutions reach EUR 36.8 million for 2023, EUR 38.1 million for 2024 and EUR 28 million for 2025.
Requests for funding were submitted by 13 independent institutions – State President’s Chancellery, Ombudsman’s Office, Competition Council, Ministry of Justice (Regional and district courts), Ministry of Justice (Data State Inspectorate), Justice Ministry (Constitution Protection Bureau), State Audit, Supreme Court, Constitutional Court, prosecution office, Central Election Commission, public electronic mass media, as well as the radio and television regulator.
Public electronic mass media requested EUR 16.4 million for 2023, EUR 16.5 million for 2024 and EUR 10.3 million for 2025.
The Ministry of Justice (Regional and district courts) requested EUR 7.7 million for 2023, EUR 8.5 million for 2024 and EUR 8.7 million in 2025.
The Ministry of Justice (Constitution Protection Bureau) requested EUR 5.4 million for 2023, EUR 4.6 million for 2024 and EUR 1.3 million for 2025.
Public electronic mass media have three priorities that require funding in the next three years: the Public Electronic Mass Media Council’s capacity (EUR 0.4 million each year), enhancement of competitiveness of Latvijas Radio (EUR 1.3 million for 2023, EUR 1.6 million for 2024 and EUR 1.7 million for 2025), as well as enhancement of capacity of Latvian State Television (EUR 4.2 million for 2023, EUR 4.4 million for 2024 and EUR 4.6 million for 2025).
The Constitution Protection Bureau listed priorities are all related to ensuring the bureau’s continued operations. The funding required for those priorities is EUR 0.1 million every year.