General budget expenditures over eleven months of the current year increased by 1.4 billion euros, or 8.8%, compared to January–November of last year, totaling nearly 17 billion euros, the Ministry of Finance reported to bb.lv.
The financial ministry does not hide where the money from the state budget is going.
The increase in expenditures is mainly due to the rapid rise in spending from the state basic budget for the implementation of EU fund projects and the Recovery Fund (by 636.6 million euros more than in the same period last year), reaching 1.2 billion euros, as well as higher defense expenditures compared to the previous year (by 222.8 million euros more), totaling 1.3 billion euros.
Military Expenditures. As a year ago, 200 million euros were allocated for air defense, however, expenditures for the acquisition of special military vehicles for the needs of the National Armed Forces (NAF) increased, as well as for the management and construction of defense infrastructure facilities, taking into account the adoption of the Cēsiņi training ground. Expenditures for the salaries of NAF personnel also increased, as well as for international operations due to the increase in the number of military personnel.
Border. Significant is the funding of 101.1 million euros used in 2025 for the construction of the eastern state border. In total, since 2021, 394.4 million euros have already been directed to the construction of the border barrier and its equipment, and work is planned to continue in 2026.
Prison. This year, nearly 40 million euros were allocated from the state budget to complete the construction of the Liepaja prison, and a total of 125.9 million euros has been spent on this project since 2023. The new prison will accommodate 1,200 inmates, which is about one-third of the total number of convicts.
Ukraine. The state budget program to support the civilian population of Ukraine continues, within which 50.3 million euros were allocated over eleven months of 2025. Since 2022, a total of 252.9 million euros has been allocated from the state budget to support the citizens of Ukraine.
Energy. For Recovery Fund projects, 710.6 million euros were allocated from the state basic budget over eleven months of the current year — 444.8 million euros more than in the same period last year. A significant part of the expenditures consisted of investments in projects for synchronizing the electricity transmission system when disconnecting from the Russian energy grid, modernizing the electrified railway network, improving energy efficiency in apartment buildings and enterprises, as well as loans to developers for housing construction.
Rail Baltica. Additionally, 152.6 million euros were invested in the strategic European transport infrastructure project Rail Baltica over eleven months of the current year, and a total of 692.8 million euros since 2016.
Leave a comment