Skopje, 4 December 2024 (MIA) – The debate on 2025 draft-budget is expected to begin at the parliamentary session on December 10.

As outlined in the Parliament’s rules of procedure, the debate, including amendments to the budget, takes place in the second week of December and lasts no more than five days.

According to the Parliament’s statement to MIA, the draft-budget will be discussed during the 22nd session, which will also include a vote on the proposal for law on execution of the budget of the Republic of North Macedonia for 2025 (under an expedited procedure).

The amendment debate on 2025 draft-budget started on November 19 and was wrapped up on November 30. A total of 307 amendments have been submitted, including 204 from the opposition SDSM.

According to the rules of procedure, once the amendment debate is concluded, the draft-budget is submitted back to the government for final approval, and in line with legal deadlines, it should be voted on in Parliament before the end of the year.

According to the 2025 draft-budget, revenues are projected at Mden 358 billion (EUR 5.81 billion), whereas expenditures stand at Mden 400 billion (EUR 6.49 billion). The budget deficit is projected to total Mden 41.35 billion, or 4 percent of the planned GDP. Inflation is expected to decrease to 2.2 percent as a result of the stabilization of prices for basic food products and energy on the international market, the slowdown of foreign effective inflation, and more moderate pressure from core inflation. Exports are projected to rise by 4.2 percent, and imports by 4.4 percent, due to expectations for the gradual stabilization of the international environment and a boost in external demand.

Photo: MIA archive