The budget for the protection and rescue sector for 2026 has been reduced by over one million and 400 thousand euros compared to the current year - according to the Budget Proposal for next year, which was adopted at the Government session.
This sector operates within the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP), for which the proposal provides over 129 million euros, which is slightly less than last year's 131,9 million.
The protection and rescue program covers response to natural disasters and technical and technological accidents, including employee salaries, system maintenance and equipment for protection and rescue services. Their budget is being reduced from around 8,8 million euros in 2025 to around 7,3 million in 2026.
The budget for the Air Helicopter Unit (AHJ) is also being reduced from 2,3 million foreseen in the current budget to 2,2 million.
The budget for public security is increasing from around 89,6 to around 92 million euros, but also for the fight against crime, so over 10,4 million is planned for that purpose - more than last year's 9,9 million.
The Public Safety Program covers police operations, current expenditures, equipment procurement, system maintenance, and support to police activities. The increase relates to a broader range of expenditures within public safety, while the police activities sub-programs are largely maintained at the previous year's indicative levels.
A reduction in funds was also observed in the administrative programs of the Ministry of the Interior, so the human and material resources management program, which this year amounted to around 17,6 million euros, is planned to be around 15 million in the proposal for 2026. This program includes salaries of employees in the Ministry, maintenance of infrastructure, digital systems, procurement of equipment and other administrative costs.
For the issuance of identity and travel documents - instead of around 8,4 million euros, as planned in 2025, the proposal for 2026 includes an amount of approximately 7,7 million. This program includes the costs of issuing identity cards, passports and driver's licenses, including salaries, materials and maintenance of information systems.
Unlike administrative programs, border management receives more money in 2026, so instead of the 3,7 million euros allocated in 2025, the proposal states an amount of about 4 million. The program covers the costs of border surveillance, equipment, technical systems and activities related to the control of movement across border crossings.
The international protection program, which refers to asylum procedures and the reception of persons seeking international protection, also saw a decline. Instead of around 2,1 million euros in 2025, the proposal for 2026 envisages around 1,4 million.
Within the new budget year, the Constitutional Court, the Judicial Council, the Prosecutorial Council, the Ministry of Justice (with a program for organizing and managing the judicial system), and the Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution will receive more funds.
Most of them receive more funds than last year, and the bulk of the costs relate to salaries and the daily work of the institutions.
The Directorate for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions (UIKS) will have fewer funds in 2026 compared to the current year. The budget proposal provided for 13,8 million, while the current budget provided 14,1 million.
More money for the TS and the Constitutional Court
The Constitutional Court receives more money than last year, so from around 1,4 million euros in 2025, its budget increases to around 1,5 million in 2026. Most of the amount relates to the gross salaries of judges and civil servants, which make up the largest part of this program.
The Judicial Council is maintaining almost the same level of funding as last year. Instead of the 34,3 million euros in the 2025 budget, the proposal for next year foresees just over 34 million. Expenditures continue to be directed towards the work of the courts, which make up the largest part of the total amount.
The Prosecutorial Council enters 2026 with an increased budget. Instead of around 15,4 million euros in 2025, 16,3 million are planned for the following year. The largest increase is recorded by the basic and higher prosecutor's offices, whose total amounts increase by approximately one million euros. This segment includes the salaries of prosecutors and employees, the costs of handling cases and the maintenance of the prosecutor's infrastructure.
The program for the organization and management of the judicial system, which in 2025 amounted to around 2,9 million euros, has been increased to around 3,3 million in the proposal for 2026. This program covers the work of the Ministry of Justice and institutions that monitor the work of the judiciary, including administrative and professional tasks, maintenance of information systems, and support for the judicial apparatus.
The Directorate for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions (UIKS) will be the only spending unit entering 2026 with a smaller amount. Instead of around 14,1 million euros, as was planned in 2025, the proposal for next year states around 13,9 million. The Directorate covers the operating costs of the prison system, including staff, prison services, maintenance and security processes.
The proposal provides for a smaller amount for the Alternative Dispute Resolution Center, namely just over 512.000 euros, which is a reduction compared to the current budget of that center, which amounts to more than 692.000 euros for labor costs and administrative support for mediation processes.
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