At today's meeting, the Executive approved the draft State Budget Law for 2018. The document was drafted in accordance with the government's public policy priorities, taking into account the provisions of the financing agreements with the development partners.

The draft state budget law for 2018 is based on an economic growth of 3%, an increase in exports of 8% and an increase in imports of 6%.

"We have a prudent attitude and I think our potential is bigger, taking into account what happened this year. The reality was more positive and optimistic than our forecasts, "said Premier Pavel Filip.

According to the document, the state budget revenues amount to 36.6 billion lei, up 8.4% compared to the rectified state budget for 2017. The increase in revenues is mainly due to the increase in taxes and fees receipts and grants . The latter will amount to 2.8 billion lei next year, 1.6 million lei more than in the current year.

State budget expenditures amounted to 41.3 billion lei, registering an increase of 9.3% compared to the rectified state budget for 2017. The expenditures will increase on the background of the planned salary increases, the increase in the level of pensions, the implementation of other measures in the field of social protection and education.

At the same time, the current expenditure programs will be financially ensured, such as: The Road Fund (1.7 billion lei, including local budget transfers), the National Development Fund for Agriculture and Rural Areas (900 million lei), the National Development Fund regional (200 million lei), the Energy Efficiency Fund (50 million lei).

The draft budget for 2018 provides for a considerable increase in the investment component. Thus, about 54 projects funded from external sources will be carried out next year, with 4.3 billion lei allocated, two times more than in the current year.

The budget deficit is estimated at 4.7 billion lei. It will be financed from external sources (net inflows from external loans for budget support and implementation of projects funded from external sources) and internal sources (including means of privatization of public patrimony and sale of assets of banks in liquidation).

At the same time, today, the draft of the State Social Insurance Budget Act 2018 and of the Law on compulsory health insurance funds for 2018 was approved.

Projects are to be submitted for scrutiny to Parliament.