MOSOW, September 19 (Itar-Tass) - The government of Russia, at its meeting here on Thursday, will consider a draft Federal budget for 2014 and for the 2015-2016 plan period, a government press service official said.
That the document would be examined was announced by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday when he was declaring open a session of the governmental commission on budgetary projections. "Our laborious work to balance the budget out in the light of the slowdown in economic growth in Russia and recession in Europe is drawing to completion," he said.
Upon recalling that expenditure on some budget items is tobe cut down by not less than five percent, Medvedev emphasized that this would not apply to the "protected items" as well as to expenses on the implementation of the presidential decrees issued in May.
First Vice-Premier Igor Shuvalov told journalists later that main discussions at the commission's meeting were connected with a "freeze" on tariffs in 2014. In particular, those present mulled over the question whether the ministries and infrastructure monopolies would be able to implement their investment programmes in such conditions.
The government meeting agenda on Thursday includes items concerning as follows:
A forecast for the socio-economic development of the Russian Federation in 2014 and the 2015-2016 plan period;
Draft Basic Orientations for an integrated State monetary and credit lending policy for 2014-2016 period;
Tariffs on compulsory social insurance against industrial accidents and occupational diseases in the 2014-2016 period;
The establishment of a minimum amount of remuneration of labour at the level of 5,554 roubles, or 6.7 percent higher than the current one;
A bill on small business benefits connected with tariffs on insurance premiums paid to the state-run extra-budgetary funds;
Amendments to a number of laws connected with the tightening of the payment discipline of the users of energy resources;
A number of other documents connected with amendments to tax and pension legislation;
Treaties between Russia and Estonia on the Russian-Estonian border and delimitation of sea expanses in the Gulfs of Narva and Finland; and a proposal on making a voluntary purpose-oriented contribution by the RF in 2013-2014 to the the fund of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization in an amount of up to $873,000, including up to $434,000 in 2013 and up to $439,000 in 2014.