The expanded meeting addressed budgetary and tax policy priorities aimed at solving the tasks of further socioeconomic development facing Russia based on macroeconomic stability and a balanced budget system.

The agenda includes issues such as improving the investment climate and supporting medium- and small-sized businesses, achieving at least 5% stable economic growth under the Russian Government’s Policy Priorities to 2018, budget rule operations and efficiently using financial resources.  

Minister of Finance Anton Siluanov will report on the Ministry’s performance in 2012 and its tasks for 2013. The participants of the meeting include: First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, Minister of Economic Development Andrei Belousov, Minister of Energy Alexander Novak, Minister of Regional Development Alexander Slyunyayev, Minister of Healthcare Veronika Skvortsova, Minister of Labour and Social Security Maxim Topilin, Minister of Education and Science Dmitry Livanov, regional heads, representatives of the Central Bank, the Audit Chamber, and leading Russian banks and top experts.  

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Russia’s economic development was ambivalent in 2012. The incomes of the population continued to grow, while the average wages in real terms grew by 8.4%, the pensions grew by 4.9% and the real cash earnings grew by 4.8%. Unemployment continued to drop. In the second half of 2012, it fell to 5.1%.

All social liabilities under Russian law were implemented in 2012.

The state continued to support education, science and healthcare. In particular, the state extended support to leading Russian educational institutions, improved bursarial capacity, continued to implement the Education priority national project, which has proved to be effective, and to take efforts to modernise professional, general and preschool education.

In terms of healthcare in 2012, the expenses for implementing social commitments were used for guaranteed free medical care for Russian citizens, including further assistance in the provision of medicines and implementation of social programmes in healthcare. Preventive medicine was expanded to improve the population’s health. 

In the area of physical fitness and sport, the budget policy priorities are aimed at promoting physical fitness and mass sport and developing sport infrastructure, as well as preparing and holding international sport competitions, including the 22^nd

Winter Olympic Games and the 11^th Paralympic Games 2014 in Sochi, the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and the 27^th World Summer Student Games 2013 in Kazan.

In the upcoming period the budgetary policy in science and the social area will be directly linked with the President’s executive orders dated May 7, 2012, which set national socioeconomic development goals for the short term.