Budget, Financial Services, Latvia, Legislation, Security, Transport, Wages

The Interior Ministry explains that salaries for police officers and firefighters, many of which are currently paid wages lower than the average monthly salary in Latvia, must be increased.

The Interior Ministry also seeks additional funds for maintenance of the State Fire and Rescue Service's vehicles, as well as for construction and reconstruction of fire stations.

Extra financing is also necessary for the establishment of operations management center, strengthening the capacity of the State Security Service and the State Border Guard.

Besides these priorities, the Interior Ministry will also seek EUR 9,719,211 over the next three-year period for different inter-institutional priorities, which include fighting organized crime, implementation of the Drug Abuse Prevention Plan, maintenance of material reserves.

As reported, ministries are seeking nearly EUR 2 billion worth of extra allocations in Latvia's 2021 budgets for high-priority needs, LETA was told at the Finance Ministry. The total amount requested by the ministries in next year's budget is EUR 1.8 billion. About as much is being requested in the 2022 budget and another EUR 2.14 billion in the 2023 budget.