Ukraine approves 2016 budget to unlock Western aid

Cash-strapped and war-scarred Ukraine badly needs aid and a newly adopted budget is crucial in unlocking the release of a delayed US$1.7 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund and other Western aid. (Photo: AFP/Aleksander Gayuk)

KIEV: The Ukrainian parliament on Friday (Dec 25) adopted a budget for next year with a deficit of 3.7 per cent of GDP, crucial for unlocking much needed aid from the IMF and Western countries.

The 2016 budget was passed after an acrimonious all-night debate and was finally approved by 263 lawmakers, about 40 more than the minimum required.

The cash-strapped and war-scarred country badly needs aid and the adoption of the budget is a key condition to secure the release of a delayed US$1.7 billion (€1.6 billion) tranche from the International Monetary Fund and other Western aid.

"The process was long and painful," Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko said on Facebook, adding that lawmakers had proposed more than 600 amendments to the text. The next IMF tranche depends on whether the budget is "balanced and responsible", she said.

There was no immediate comment from the Washington-based IMF.

Many Ukrainian lawmakers had vehemently opposed a budget based on a new tax code, saying it was too austere, but reached a last minute compromise.

On Wednesday Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk warned that Ukraine would face "economic catastrophe" if parliament failed to comply with the IMF requirements.

At a government meeting on Friday evening, Yatsenyuk hailed the adoption of a budget and said "all plans to destabilise the country, to dismiss the government, to disrupt the plan of reforms have failed"

"Of course, we'll have to carry out difficult negotiations with our international partners to continue receiving financial support," he added.

According to the document, Ukraine's gross domestic product next year is expected to expand by 2.0 per cent, compared with an 11-percent decline estimated this year.

Inflation is expected to slow to 12.5 per cent next year, compared with 50 per cent projected for 2015.

As well as this year, five percent of the country's GDP has been allocated for national defence, the country's priority due to the fighting between government forces and pro-Russian rebels in the country's east that has killed more than 9,000 people since April 2014.