Interior Ministry seeks 124 million euros more for public safety

Lithuania’s Interior Ministry is seeking an additional 124 million euros in next year’s budget to maintain public safety, calling the sum a critical need, LRT reported.

Interior Minister Martynas Katelynas told parliamentary committees on Wednesday that the system would continue operating without the extra funding, but some investigations could be delayed, scaled back or not carried out.

Of the 124.072 million euros requested, 56 million would go towards higher pay. The remaining 68 million would fund operational needs, including cybersecurity, the Criminal Police Bureau and other statutory services.

The ministry has also requested 5.1 million euros for the State Border Guard Service’s military readiness, protection of critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, stronger capacities in its structural units and equipment. Nearly 9 million euros would cover equipment for officers, and 2.4 million euros would fund rehabilitation and other health services.

Katelynas said the ministry hopes to develop a system under which services could receive a share of funds they help recover from the shadow economy. He said a similar model is used in other European countries, but it cannot be introduced this year.

The draft budget presented to parliament last week provides for a roughly 7.5% pay rise for statutory officers, with 45.3 million euros set aside for the increase. Katelynas has said he hopes to raise their pay by 8% to 9%, arguing that higher salaries are needed to retain experienced officers and recruit new staff.

The draft allocates 921.8 million euros to public safety next year. This year, 1.07 billion euros was allocated to the entire interior system.