KRG Cabinet Directs Preparation of Unified Demands for Upcoming Federal Budget

The Kurdistan Regional Government's Council of Ministers on Wednesday directed the preparation of a unified vision and a list of the region's demands for the upcoming year's federal budget. The Council held its regular weekly meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, discussing several topics on its agenda. The Council of Ministers expressed deep concern over ongoing terrorist attacks on the Kurdistan Region, condemning them forcefully. It affirmed these attacks pose a blatant threat to security, stability, citizen lives, and the interests of both the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. The Council emphasized the Region has never been a party to regional tensions and conflicts, but rather consistently supported peace, dialogue, and good neighborliness. It instructed the Ministry of Natural Resources to take necessary measures to address the fuel shortage in coordination with relevant authorities, tighten market control and fuel quality to prevent monopolization, and facilitate citizens' access to affordable fuel. The Council stressed the Kurdistan Region's constitutional right to its share of oil for domestic consumption across Iraq, based on population ratio and constitutional principles of justice and balance. Furthermore, the Council discussed proposals for the federal general budget for fiscal year 2027. It directed the Ministries of Finance and Economy, and Planning, to prepare a unified vision and demands to establish the Region's constitutional rights and secure fair salaries and entitlements for its employees, similar to other Iraqi areas. Finally, it directed a joint meeting with Kurdish blocs in the federal parliament at the earliest opportunity to unify positions, preserving the Region's interests and constitutional rights.