Macedonia raises capital investment budget to 47 bn denars in 2026 rebalance

Prime Minister Christian Mikoski told parliament that the 2026 budget rebalance increases capital‑investment allocations from 39 bn to 47 bn denars, a rise of roughly 8 bn denars. The higher spending, directed to infrastructure projects such as highways, water‑works and wastewater plants in Skopje, Bitola and Tetovo, is cited as the main cause of the budget deficit widening from 3.5 % to 4.1 % of GDP.

Finance Minister Gordana Dimitriesska‑Kochoska said the rebalance adds about €100 million (≈179 million euros) to the expense side, with extra funds earmarked for the ministries of Environment (2.3 bn denars), Transport (1.4 bn denars), Education (426 mn denars) and the State Election Commission (200 mn denars). Projects include completing the Kičevo‑Ohrid motorway, the first 10 km of the Prilep‑Bitola road, and the Blace‑Skopje highway, which will be built by the Macedonian firm Granite with EU loan financing.

Mikoski emphasized that improved project management now allows the government to fund these investments without raising social‑benefit spending, despite the ongoing energy crisis and recent VAT and excise‑rate cuts.