The joint session of the boards of the State Control Committee of Belarus and the Accounts Chamber of Russia summarised the results of the external audit of the Union State budget execution for 2022. The event was held in St. Petersburg under the chairmanship of Vasily Gerasimov, Head of the State Control Committee, and Galina Izotova, Acting Chairman of the Accounts Chamber of Russia.
Vasily Gerasimov, Chairman of the State Control Committee of Belarus, noted that in the conditions of severe external pressure it is important to concentrate efforts and funds on the most priority areas, to optimise the expenditures of the Union budget in favour of activities that will give the maximum demanded result. "At the meeting of the Supreme State Council in April this year with the participation of the President of the Republic of Belarus and the President of the Russian Federation, the state of affairs in the priority areas of the Union State construction was thoroughly reviewed and a number of decisions to deepen integration processes were approved. Therefore, the issues on the agenda of the meeting should be considered through the prism of the strategic tasks facing our countries," Vasily Gerasimov added.
Chairman of the SCC of Belarus Vasily Gerasimov noted that in the conditions of severe external pressure it is important to concentrate forces and funds on the most priority areas, optimize the expenditures of the Union budget in favour of the activities, the return on which will give the maximum demanded result. "At the meeting of the Supreme State Council in April this year with the participation of the President of the Republic of Belarus and the President of the Russian Federation, the state of affairs in the priority areas of the Union State construction was thoroughly reviewed and a number of decisions to deepen integration processes were approved. Therefore, the issues on the agenda of the meeting should be considered through the prism of the strategic tasks facing our countries," Vasily Gerasimov added.
The external audit conducted by the control bodies of Belarus and Russia confirms the data of the report of the Council of Ministers of the Union State on the execution of the Union State budget for 2022 in terms of revenues and expenditures. The results of the audit have shown that financial discipline in the execution of the Union State budget is improving. Such dynamics has been observed over the last few years.
The audit revealed a number of shortcomings related to incomplete utilization of budgetary funds.
Most of the Union budget funds are allocated for the implementation of joint activities and programmes. The supervisory bodies have repeatedly noted the lengthy procedure for developing and approving programmes. Relevance was lost and time was lost. Now, at the suggestion of the Committee and the Accounts Chamber, the deadlines for the development of programmes have been fixed and the cumbersome procedure for developing the concept of programmes has been changed. There is a result. For 2023, 3 new programmes have been accepted for implementation, the projects of 3 more programmes are in a high degree of readiness (4 programmes were implemented in 2022). Expenditures for their implementation will amount to 46% of the Union budget.
Taking into account the instructions of the Presidents of Belarus and Russia, it is also necessary to reformat the information space of the Union State. Further development should be carried out through the creation of a modern media holding, including TV and radio broadcasting, Internet channels, and printed publications.
The meeting also addressed the issues of disposing of the property created as a result of the implementation of programmes, projects and activities of the Union State, as well as the mechanism of accounting of the Union State property, joint use of the property and implementation of the results obtained.