The plenary session of the Parliament approved the supplementary budget of the state amounting to €345.1 million euros, which was submitted mainly due to the serious impact of the war in Ukraine on the Cypriot economy.
In favour of the bill 49 of the deputies present voted in favour
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The most important expenditures concern the increased General Government Contribution to the General Health Plan, amounting to €150 million, an increased General Government Contribution to the Social Security Fund of €93.5 million, subsidy of the increased electricity consumption charge of €30 million, purchase of water for the operation of desalination plants - €26.3 million, subsidy to the CERP of €11.8 million and hosting of Ukrainian Refugees of €1O million. and unaccompanied minor children of asylum seekers - €0.8 million.
The supplementary budget also includes Support measures for agricultural products of €4.4 million, purchase of medicines and vaccines of €3.8 million, increased Social Benefits for Persons with Disabilities on a project basis of €1.4 million
According to the Ministry of Finance, because much of the additional appropriations are intended to cover the increase in the general government contribution to the GHS and the general government contribution to the Social Insurance Fund of €93.5 million, which relate to transactions within the general government, without affecting the fiscal balance, the fiscal impact of the supplementary budget is limited to €101.5 million or 0.4% of GDP.
The plenary rejected AKEL's amendments to remove the funds related to the separation of the Supreme Court and to delete the funds related to the separation of the structure for the management of T/C properties in the Interior Ministry.
During the debate, DISY MP Onoufios Koulla said that the supplementary budget demonstrates that the government has the fiscal capacity to support the state's policies. "To directly or indirectly support our fellow citizens," he said, referring among other things to the increased contribution to the Social Insurance Fund and the increased contribution to the General Health Plan.
In response, DIKO Deputy President Christiana Erotokritou said that the party would vote in favour of the supplementary budget, criticising that amid rising energy prices the government had allocated only €30 million to the budget.
"We note with regret that despite the fact that the biggest problem is the cost of energy which threatens households and small and medium enterprises with closure, which means more unemployment, the only amount within the supplementary budget is €30 million.He said."
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