Finance Minister Fatmir Besimi handed over Thursday the 2021 draft budget to Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi.

By handing over the document, the Minister marked in a symbolic way its delivery to the legislative house, said the Finance Ministry.

“The 2021 draft budget has been forwarded to Parliament on time, earlier even than the deadline defined in the process of adopting the budget,” said the press release.

According to Minister Besimi, Parliament’s motion in regards to its budget was included in the 2021 draft budget.

The 2021 budget, Besimi said, envisages systemic changes aimed at strategic, long-term and transparent public finances, i.e. SMART finances, in the future. Next year’s budget also introduces a new concept of medium-term planning – a five-year framework for capital projects, growth and deficit.

Furthermore, the 2021 draft budget is designed to respond to the coronavirus crisis. It has three objectives – support to healthcare, support to the economy and systemic reforms in the judiciary and EU integration.

It is planned to be achieved through the economic recovery strategy, made up of four pillars – handling of the COVID crisis; sustainable and green growth; competitiveness of the private sector, and human capital.

Minister Besimi said he expected Parliament to hold a ‘democratic discussion’ offering constructive solutions and immediate actions, said the press release.