Skopje, 28 July 2021 (MIA) – The Parliament on Wednesday adopted the 2021 supplementary budget with 56 votes in favor and 37 against. Deputy Finance Minister Dimitar Kovachevski, who addressed the Parliament ahead of the vote, stressed that citizens’ health, a healthy economy and sound finances remain as key priorities. “Priorities will be aimed at managing the effects of the pandemic through increasing the volume of investments by directly supporting companies’ activities, creating new jobs through active employment measures, as well as support and development of micro, small and medium enterprises. This means that support will be realized through creating development funds and similar instruments to support export companies, small and medium enterprises, as well as social enterprises,” Kovachevski said. The Deputy Minister added that the fiscal stimulus for the economy and the citizens continues until full recovery and return of the economy to the path of economic growth. He thanked for the constructive discussion that has led to appropriate amendments. Total revenues in the revised budget are projected at Mden 222.6 billion, raised by about Mden 10 billion or 4.7% compared to the original budget. Tax revenues are projected at Mden 123.9 billion, i.e. about 6 billion more compared to the original budget. Social revenues stand at Mden 69 billion, about Mden one billion higher compared to the 2021 plan. Other revenues (non-tax, capital and foreign donations) are projected at Mden 29.5 billion. Expenditures are projected at Mden 268.8 billion, i.e. Mden 21 billion more compared to the 2021 plan, whereas capital expenditures are projected at 30.5 billion denars, which is more by 6.5 billion denars compared to the 2021 plan. Several budgetary beneficiaries will see cuts of expenditures on two bases – less productive costs and projects with stalled implementation. Deficit is projected at Mden 46.2 billion, i.e. 6.5% of GDP. The increase of the deficit from 4.9% to 6.5%, according to the authorities, is a result of the need for increased funding for the set of economic measures to deal with the consequences of the health and economic crisis, which will be financed through subsidies and transfers, as well as through capital expenditures. The inflation rate is projected at 2.1%. The supplementary budget provides funds for the payment of annual vacation pay in accordance with the Branch Collective Agreement for state institutions, as well as additional funds in the health sector for activities that directly contribute to the fight against the health crisis, related to procurement of drugs and vaccines for the immunization of the population. The positions of the ruling party and the opposition regarding the supplementary budget remained unchanged during Wednesday’s debate. For the ruling party, the revised budget is aimed at development, with more money to stabilize the economy, whereas for the opposition it is wasteful, with more money for pre-election bribery and employment based on political party. The 47^th session of the Parliament, whose agenda included the supplementary budget, will resume on Thursday with a debate on the draft-resolution on the Macedonian state positions in the context of the European integration blockades, which is the second item on the agenda.