DINKIC: Budget revision by September 1st

(Mladjan Dinkic)

Minister of Finance and Economy Mladjan Dinkic said Friday (17 August 2012) that a draft proposal for the 2012 budget revision would be drawn up by September 1st at the latest, pointing out that 14 bills that should represent an introduction to the fiscal consolidation to be finished in September had already been prepared.

He stressed that regardless of saving plans, there would be enough money in the budget to pay pensions to retired people until the year's end.

Retirees who are in the most difficult position and receive less than RSD 15,000 a month can count on two extra payments of RSD 4,000 by the end of the year, Dinkic said and added that about 540,000 pensioners in Serbia were in such situation.

Dinkic specified that the aid of RSD 8,000 would be paid to the users of the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund, farmers and pensioners, as well as the users of other funds, noting that the first payment would be made between September 17 and 19 and the second one just before New Year.

This aid will also be paid in 2013 to the most endangered pensioners, who will receive RSD 16,000 in four equal installments, said Dinkic.

Funds for the expropriation of land on the route of future Corridor XI will be secured through the budget revision, Dinkic said and added that a total of about EUR 1 billion had already been earmarked for that purpose in the 2012 budget.

He also stated that Serbia was ready for the talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and stressed that the representatives of that financial institution could come to Serbia whenever they wanted.