UE backs the Dominican national budget
Through the cooperation instrument called “Budget Support”, the European Union supports the Dominican Republic, with a donation of RD$73,495,094 million for the implementation of two important programs, aimed at promoting institutional strengthening, transparency of public finances , democratic governance and, in general, citizen satisfaction with public services.
This delivery of funds for the 2022 State budget marks the fulfillment of the annual achievements agreed for the programs to Support the Reform of the Administration and Public Finances of the DR and the Mobilization of Internal Revenue and Support for the Reform of the Administration Public and the Quality of Public Services.
The ambassador of the European Union Delegation, Katja Ahfeldt, formally handed over the funds to the Ministers of Finance, Economy, Planning and Development; and Public Administration; José Manuel Vicente, Miguel Ceara Hatton, and Darío Castillo Lugo, respectively, in an official act in which it was indicated that these non-reimbursable contributions have been disbursed from the PROGEF and PARAP programs implemented by the European Union in the country.
Ambassador Afheldt indicated that this new disbursement will allow the promotion of a more efficient and transparent financial management of the public administration aimed at increasing the flow of taxes and providing increasingly satisfactory public services, in particular in the creation of results-oriented budgets.
“Furthermore, with these budget supports that we make, we try to contribute to the institutional strengthening of the public administration, there is an improvement in the quality of services to Dominican citizens, in particular those under the responsibility of the prioritized institutions; with a gender approach; and that civil society can have a relevant participation in this process”, said Ahfeldt.
José Manuel Vicente, Minister of Finance, highlighted that this support from the European Union has aligned the management of local public finances with good international practices and has made it possible to promote transparency and efficiency in the use of public resources.
“From the Ministry of Finance we are committed to advancing with the adaptation of rules and processes in terms of public finance management, progressively innovating and having tools that facilitate the execution of the processes”, said Vicente.
Moreover, the Minister of Economy, Planning and Development, Miguel Ceara Hatton highlighted that “these budget support programs have become an ally for the materialization of public policies in the areas of institutional strengthening, results-based management, efficiency in the management of public finances and specifically for this Ministry, in the establishment of the Monitoring and Evaluation System of the National Development Strategy”.
Budget support is a cooperation modality proposed by the European Union when the beneficiary country demonstrates the capacity to apply adequate public policies to advance in the necessary management and reforms.
The European Union and the Dominican Republic have maintained cooperative relations for more than 30 years.