The draft, which was amended in Parliament, envisages the deficit to reach €3.284 billion. Revenues should stand at €14.108 billion while expenditure is projected to reach €17.392 billion. The initial proposal envisaged a slightly bigger deficit €3.386 billion.
The largest portion of funding in the 2014 budget is to be allocated to the Transport, Construction and Regional Development Ministry €2.257 billion; next the Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Ministry, and the Interior Ministries on €2.211 billion and €2.018 billion, respectively. The Education Ministry however, maybe the institution with the most problem at present due to chronic underfunding and teacher protests again saw their budget for the year decrease. In comparison with the previous version of the bill from October 2013, the budget allotted for the Ministry has increased by 30 million, so it is a reason to rejoice. However, it is only a drop in the ocean of the underfunding policy with a decrease by €980 million in contrast with last year’s budget. Protesting primary and secondary teachers are to be appeased with a €42 a month rise to last year; whereas university teachers have a rise of some €16.
