Belarus-Russia Union State budget 2023 approved

The Belarus-Russia Union State budget 2023 was approved by a decree of the Supreme State Council of the Union State on 26 December. The relevant information was published on the website of the Union State Standing Committee with reference to State Secretary of the Union State Dmitry Mezentsev, BelTA has learned.

The document was signed by Chairman of the Supreme State Council, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“The Union State programs, traditionally financed from the Union State budget, remain a priority. Eight such programs are scheduled for implementation in 2023. The most important tasks in space will be addressed - at the stage of the development are unique remote sensing spacecraft, which will enable research of the atmosphere and the Earth's surface, as requested by the real sectors of the economy. Electronics and microelectronics remain a significant area of cooperation between the countries,” said Dmitry Mezentsev.

He also stressed that due to the increasing importance of ensuring the security of the Union State, the Union State budget will finance the development of a number of military and border infrastructure facilities. In addition, cooperation will continue in healthcare; research will be carried out on the development of membrane technology to protect the human body from viruses. According to the state secretary, the budget also includes support for projects and 33 events of the Union State aimed at cooperation in culture, humanitarian affairs and patriotic education. “The parties will continue to cooperate on the important topic of protecting the historical truth about the Great Patriotic War, the centuries-old shared history of our nations,” he said.

“Funding of programs, projects and activities of the Union State, information support of the Union State construction will be provided in a timely manner, without delay, starting from January 2023,” Dmitry Mezentsev said.

As BelTA reported earlier, on 19 December, when considering the draft budget of the Union State for 2023 at the session of the Parliamentary Assembly, it was stated that the revenue part of the budget will amount to RUB5.966 billion. It will be formed from the contributions of Belarus and Russia, as well as the unused balances of the Union State budget 2022. The expenditure part is set to make up RUB5.67 billion. The surplus will amount to RUB899 million.

Some 78% of the budget 2023 will be spent on the implementation of four Union State programs, and also 33 events. Four more draft programs are almost ready. Once they are adopted, the budget surplus will be used to implement these programs.