Citizens as well as businesses are waiting for the seventh package of government measures to more easily overcome the economic crisis caused by the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis and the consequences of the pandemic.

The new measures are expected to be announced early next month following a vote on the budget review in Parliament.

The executive says that there will be help for the most vulnerable categories of citizens and business.

The Minister of Finance, Fatmir Besimi emphasizes that even in the reports and analyzes of international institutions the recommendations are the same, or it is said that countries should act with targeted measures against certain categories of citizens and companies, in order to maintain fiscal and macroeconomic stability. of economics.

"With the budget review, we continue with the measures in terms of supporting citizens and companies.

Reserve funds have been allocated for new anti-crisis measures.

Additional funds have been allocated to support farmers to increase domestic yields, in order to amortize the effects of the high price of imported food.

Additional funds have been allocated for the most vulnerable categories of citizens and for increasing the pensions of pensioners.

All of these are targeted measures, because in addition to supporting overcoming the crisis, it is also important to maintain macroeconomic stability.

"Because, only a stable economy can generate strong and sustainable economic growth", emphasizes Besimi.

He further adds that the recommendations of the International Monetary Fund, go in the direction of not reducing taxes on fuel and food On the contrary,

tax collection should be destined to protect the most vulnerable families.

With the reduction of taxes for all, it means that those who do not need support are subsidized, at the expense of vulnerable categories of citizens, he adds.

The business sector says that it needs well-thought-out measures that will help it overcome the crisis with high energy prices, because coping with the current crisis causes great difficulties in the daily work of businesses.

The Macedonian Chamber of Commerce says that measures are needed to solve certain problems for maintaining the liquidity of the private sector, first by defining a model of support for electricity consumption.

Then adapting the concept of public procurement or conducting tenders.

At the same time, the administrative procedures for building permits for the installation of photovoltaics for own production are very long, which makes it impossible to provide cheaper electricity in a short period of time.

It also requires the cessation of the adoption of laws in a rapid procedure that complicates the business environment of companies.

"Fiscal policy should be based on the principle of care and saving, to create more space for intervention on the supply side.

Otherwise, although it is not yet known exactly what the new measures will be, it is expected that with the review of the state treasury, about 76 million euros will be put into operation for measures against the crisis, but also subsidies to increase the minimum wage, significant funds. additional subsidies for farmers - in order to increase productivity, as well as funds to increase pensions and increase transfers for guaranteed minimum income, say the Ministry of Finance.

The new measures aim at protecting the most vulnerable or vulnerable categories of the population, equitable distribution of funds and gradual fiscal consolidation, which is of great importance for maintaining the stability of public debt and the stability of the local economy in general.

In the medium term, it is planned to narrow the budget deficit by improving the collection of budget revenues or tax collection, measures to reduce the gray or informal economy and its prevention.

It also envisages reduction and restructuring of budget expenditures, reduction of non-priority and non-essential expenditures, greater support for the private sector and innovation in order to strengthen competition, the social component to support the most vulnerable categories and review of transfer methodologies; and subsidies, changes in the sources of financing the budget hole, greater distribution of deficit financing sources, financing and implementation of certain projects through public-private partnership and the creation of a Development Fund.

(koha.mk)