State Secretary at the Ministry of Finance Nenad Mijailovic presented the 2017 budget execution, income and expenditure, stating that macroeconomically speaking 2017 was satisfactory.

He then presented the 2018 budget proposal stating that it is development oriented. The 2018 budget allocation for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management amounts to a little over 44 billion RSD with the biggest changes in the part concerning subsidies – a 1.6 billion RSD increase, and adding that capital investment is also planned to be increased.

Velimir Stanojevic, State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, also spoke about the Republic of Serbia 2018 Budget Bill – Section 24. He said that the proposed 44 billion RSD of funds were allocated as follows: 34 billion RSD for agricultural subsidies, 30.6 billion RSD for agriculture and rural development incentives realised through the Directorate for Agrarian Payments – about 21 billion RSD for direct payments and 5, billion RSD for rural development measures

Assistant Head of the Directorate for Agrarian Payments Bojan Zivkovic spoke about the part of the budget intended for the Directorate stressing that the subsidies had been increased. He also spoke about the participation in the realization of IPARD funds.

Following a debate the Committee accepted the Republic of Serbia 2018 Budget Bill – Section 24 Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, in principle.

The sitting was chaired by Committee Chairman Marijan Risticevic and attended by the following Committee members and deputy members: Mladen Lukic, Vladimir Djuric, Zarko Bogatinovic, Nada Lazic, Radovan Jancic, Milorad Mircic, Prof. Dr Miladin Sevarlic, Milija Miletic, Dr Ljubinko Rakonjac, Tijana Davidovac, Olivera Ognjanovic and Jasmina Obradovic.