The Government adopted the Report on the implementation of the budget in the first half of the year

The Government adopted the Report on the implementation of the state budget in the first half of this year. In the period in question, the state budget recorded revenue of EUR 6.3 billion, or 47.8% of the planned amount, while state budget expenditure reached EUR 6.7 billion, or 41% of the planned amount.

On the basis of the outturn, it is foreseen that total state budget revenue could reach EUR 13.1 billion by the end of the year, while expenditure could reach EUR 16 billion. The projected budget deficit for 2023 therefore stands at EUR 2.96 billion.

Source: Ministry of Finance

Position of the Government on the National Council opinions on budget documents

The Government adopted its position on the National Council opinions on the draft budget amendment for 2024, the supplemented draft state budget for 2025 and the proposed Act Regulating the Implementation of the Budgets of the Republic of Slovenia for 2024 and 2025.

In its position regarding the National Council opinions, the Government explained that the fiscal rules will come back into force next year. Against this background, and taking into account the magnitude of the natural disaster in August, which requires the provision of a significant share of the state budget, the Government included in the draft act on the implementation of budgets some measures to reduce expenditure.

The amendments then took into account the bulk of the comments raised by the National Council. Transfers to individuals will be adjusted in 2024 at 70% of the increase in consumer prices, and the provisions on the non-harmonisation of civil servants' salaries and on the regulation of the contribution base for workers who are public servants posted abroad were deleted.

At the same time, the amendments revised the lump sum, which will amount to EUR 725 over the next two years, in line with the Government's agreement with the associations of municipalities, and, due to the changed circumstances and the increase in labour costs for indirect users of municipal budgets, municipalities will receive additional funds for this purpose, specifically EUR 20 million for 2024 and EUR 34 million for 2025.

The Government considers that the amendments have taken into account the bulk of the comments raised by the National Council and have provided adequate explanations which further confirm the relevance of the content of the draft budgets for the next two years.

Source: Ministry of Finance

Government's position on the amendments to the state budgets for 2024 and 2025

The Government took a position on the amendments to the draft budget amendments for 2024 and the amendments to the supplemented draft state budget for 2025.

The Government rejected the amendments to the draft budget amendments for 2024, with the exception of the amendment which increases the funding for the National Electoral Commission for the conducting of elections by EUR 550,000. The latter amendment was supported by the Government. At the same time, the funding for the activities of the National Council will be reduced by the same amount.

However, the amendments to the supplemented draft state budget for 2025 were rejected by the Government in their entirety.

Source: Ministry of Finance