The state budget for 2014 that was agreed by the Government on November 27 provides for revenues of 25.6 billion lei, up 14.1% on this year, and an expenditure of 28.05 billion lei, an increase of 18.9%.  The deficit is 2.4 billion lei or 2.3% of the GDP, IPN reports.

Minister of Finance Anatol Apapu said the deficit will be covered with foreign loans, with money obtained from selling state property of 430 million lei on the home market and from privatizing public property of 240 million lei.

The economic expenses next year will represent 16.1%. The spending on education will be by 80% larger than this year. The scholarships for students and persons studying for their doctorate will be raised. There be financed the Quality Assurance Agency in higher and research education and created excellence centers in secondary vocational education.

The spending on social assistance will be increased by 17.9%. There will be built an assistance and protection center for victims of trafficking in human beings. The childbirth allowance for insured and uninsured persons will be raised from 2,600 and, respectively, 2,900 lei to 3,100 and 3,400 lei respectively. The expenditure in healthcare will be by over 10% higher.

In a news conference, the National Participation Council (CNP) announced that it sued the Government over non-transparency. According to the Council, the draft 2014 state budget law was included in the meeting of the Cabinet’s agenda without the document being made public and discussed with the people. The CNP demanded that the executive should ensure immediate access to the full text of the bill by publishing it and should hold public consultations on the draft budget law.