The expenses of ministries and institutions for non-governmental organizations, as well as grants to individuals, have more than doubled over the last four years, according to information compiled by Inc. Thus, in 2022 a total of 98.9 million euros were spent for these purposes, while in 2026 the same purposes are planned to receive 192.9 million euros.
It should be added that the increase has been consistent and these have not been exceptional cases. Even when summing the periods by parliamentary terms, the increase still reaches almost 100%. During the previous Saeima term, from 2019 to 2022, 349.9 million euros were spent on NGOs and grants, whereas for the period from 2023 to 2026 (inclusive), 671.81 million euros are planned for this purpose.
The summary includes four budget codes: grants to associations and foundations; grants to individuals for project implementation; subsidies and grants to associations and foundations for projects co-financed by EU policy instruments and other foreign financial assistance; as well as reimbursements to associations and foundations for the implementation of EU policy instrument projects and other foreign financial assistance projects.
The data show that expenses in the above-mentioned positions have increased the most for the Cabinet of Ministers which, as Inc. has already reported, pays the “Civic Alliance” for performing secretariat functions for “Memorandum Council” meetings, with 200 thousand euros allocated per year. NGO spending has also increased at the Ministry of Defence, where, compared with the period up to 2024, it has roughly tripled: instead of the previous ~300 thousand euros, 930 thousand euros are planned this year. The Ministry of Justice is in a similar situation; this year it will spend 924 thousand euros on grants, compared with 250 thousand euros in 2023.
The largest increase has been at the Ministry of Finance – this is explained by the fact that the Central Finance and Contracting Agency operates under it and has been entrusted with acting as an intermediary in paying support to residents for various physical projects, such as the replacement or improvement of heating boilers. More on that can be read here.
The Ministry of the Interior’s spending on grants has increased by 53% compared to 2023.
For several institutions, such as the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Saeima, spending on grants has not changed significantly over the years, while for several ministries it has decreased. For example, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is spending 34% less for these purposes this year than in 2023; the Ministry of Economics – 35% less than in 2023 and 60% less than last year. Spending on grants has also halved at the Ministry of Environmental Protection, which will spend 3 million euros on this in 2026, compared with 6 million in 2023.
The Ministry of Climate and Energy’s expenditures for the above-mentioned purposes are variable with a downward trend; however, it spends 60% of its entire budget on grants, and a large share of the grants is intended for individuals. More on that can be read here.
Only one ministry has reduced its expenditures in the said positions – the Ministry of Health. Interestingly, as recently as 2023 the Ministry of Health spent 1.9 million euros on grants, but in 2024 and 2025 the spending has been 0. This year, however, the Ministry of Health has reserved 50 thousand euros for patient organizations.
Originally published at https://inc-baltics.com/valdibas-terini-nvo-un-fizisku-personu-dotacijam-silinas-valdibas-laika-ir-dubultojusies/
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