{"id":990,"date":"2020-06-28T22:07:55","date_gmt":"2020-06-28T20:07:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gbwn.net\/?page_id=990"},"modified":"2025-07-21T12:23:26","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T10:23:26","slug":"budget-commentaries","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/gbwn.net\/en\/budget-commentaries\/","title":{"rendered":"Budget Commentaries"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tCommentaries <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\tof the budget 2025<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Commentary of the budget 2025 for North Macedonia<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The 2025 budget, which was expected to be the first with a gender dimension, does not fully comply with the requirements of Article 35 of the new Law on Budgets. It does not include a summary overview of the gender budget statements of budget users, which are regulated in point 2, sub-point 5, as part of the budget documentation and are to be submitted together with the Draft Budget.<\/p>

The Center for Research and Policy Making, a member of the International Budget Partnership (the organization that prepares the Global Open Budget Index), and a leading entity of the Gender Budget Watchdog Network, points out that without clear, transparently published, and easily understandable information on funds allocated for gender equality, the Government is also failing to meet Indicator 5.c.1 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMacedonia version of the budget commentaries here <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Commentary of the budget 2025 for Albania<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Albania\u2019s 2025 State Budget demonstrates important progress toward sustainable development, social protection, and EU integration. With 9.1% of public expenditures targeting gender inequality, the budget includes initiatives supporting women and girls\u2014especially in education, healthcare, social protection, and rural development.<\/p>\n

While measures such as free textbooks for vulnerable girls, increased breast and cervical cancer screenings, and financial support for unemployed mothers mark positive steps, the budget still lacks a unified strategy for gender equality. Critical gaps include the absence of sex-disaggregated data, insufficient monitoring, and limited inclusion of marginalized women in policy implementation.<\/p>\n

At both national and local levels, institutional capacity for gender-responsive budgeting remains weak. Without measurable indicators or targeted investments, many gender-focused policies risk remaining symbolic rather than transformative.<\/p>\n

To ensure real progress, the commentary recommends five key actions: analyze past budget impacts on gender, institutionalize gender budgeting across all government levels, create a national monitoring framework, strengthen municipal capacities, and expand support for women\u2019s economic empowerment.<\/p>\n

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Albania\u2019s path to gender equality through public finance is underway\u2014but requires stronger commitment, transparency, and accountability to make the budget work for all women and girls.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAlbania version of the budget commentaries here <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Commentary of the budget 2025 for Kosovo<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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This Commentary, prepared by the Kosovo Women\u2019s Network (KWN) as part of the Gender Budget Watchdog Network (GBWN), analyzes Kosovo\u2019s 2025 Annual Budget Law and forthcoming Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) in light of the Government\u2019s gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) commitments.<\/p>

The \u20ac3.6 billion budget for 2025 reflects an 8.8% increase from 2024 but lacks analysis of the differing needs of women, men, and marginalized groups. It also omits a Gender Budget Statement. Kosovo continues to use line-item budgeting, which limits transparency and makes it difficult to track GRB-related spending. The Agency for Gender Equality received \u20ac380,230\u2014a 3% increase from 2024\u2014while 22 out of 38 municipalities left their \u201cGender Affairs\u201d budget lines unfunded.<\/p>

A notable positive is the \u20ac2.5 million allocated to shelters for domestic violence survivors, a 67% increase from the previous year.<\/p>

The Commentary offers recommendations for improving gender-responsiveness in future MTEFs and the 2026 Annual Budget.<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKosovo version of the budget commentaries here <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Commentary of the budget 2025 for Serbia<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The 2025 Budget of the Republic of Serbia continues the country\u2019s commitment to gender-responsive budgeting (GRB), a legal obligation since 2015. With full implementation mandated by 2024, all budget beneficiaries are now required to integrate gender-responsive goals and disaggregated indicators into their planning and reporting.<\/p>

The budget projects GDP at RSD 10.3 trillion (EUR 88.1 billion) with a growth forecast of 4.2% and a public debt level of 47.5% of GDP. Key priorities include significant social spending\u2014pensions will rise by 10.9% in December 2024, and public sector salaries will increase by 8% to 11% in early 2025.<\/p>

The Ministry of Finance receives the largest allocation (RSD 1.32 trillion), reinforcing its central role in shaping Serbia\u2019s fiscal and economic landscape. Other major allocations include the Ministry of Defense (RSD 261.8 billion) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (RSD 131.4 billion), reflecting national priorities in security and governance.<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Commentary of the budget 2025 for Montenegro<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Montenegro\u2019s 2025 state budget reflects modest progress in the integration of gender-responsive budgeting (GRB), with 9.1% of the total budget and 24.3% of the current budget identified as gender-sensitive\u2014showing slight improvements over 2024. The Gender Equality Committee has welcomed these efforts, noting increased visibility of gender-related expenditures.<\/p>

Key sectors such as culture (42.9%), defense (28.7%), and social welfare (22.4%) show the highest shares of gender-sensitive allocations. However, major gaps remain: the Draft Fiscal Strategy 2024\u20132027 lacks any reference to gender equality or GRB, and local budgets continue to omit specific funding for gender equality promotion. Notably, the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights has no dedicated gender equality budget line, despite housing the relevant department.<\/p>

Civil society calls for stronger legal frameworks, mandatory GRB provisions, transparent budget planning, and increased investment in gender equality, especially at the local level. Comprehensive recommendations have been issued to ministries, Parliament, and municipalities to ensure sustainable progress in mainstreaming gender equality through public finances.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMontenegro version of the budget commentaries here <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Commentary of the budget 2025 for Moldova<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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As Moldova continues to navigate complex macroeconomic challenges\u2014including inflation, energy insecurity, and rising costs\u2014the 2025 state budget takes important steps toward integrating gender equality and social inclusion across sectors. While positive progress is evident in social protection and agricultural development, the report identifies persistent gaps in education, transport, employment, and climate change policy.<\/p>

Key highlights include:<\/p>