Foto: BB.LV / монеты и сейф
From January to September 2026, the state allocated €30.114 million for unforeseen expenses, reports the LETA agency, citing data published by the Fiscal Discipline Council (FDC). This amount constitutes 34.1% of the funds originally planned in the budget and 29.9% of the financing volume after the September redistribution of budget allocations. ### The most money was allocated in the third quarter The expenditure of the budget reserve noticeably accelerated in the second half of the reviewed period. In the first quarter, €2.975 million was allocated for unforeseen needs, in the second — €6.239 million, and in the third — already €20.9 million. Expenditures from the reserve by quarters Latvia, 2026 · million € I quarter 2.975 million € II quarter 6.239 million € III quarter 20.9 million € Total for nine months 30.114 million € Almost 70% of the expenses were incurred in the III quarter. Source: Fiscal Discipline Council of Latvia Thus, almost 70% of all expenses over the nine months were incurred from July to September. During this period, 90 requests for funding were approved: 20 in the first quarter, 25 in the second, and 45 in the third. ### Which ministries received the most The largest recipient of funds was the Ministry of Welfare. The ministry was allocated €9.04 million through five requests. In second place is the Ministry of Health, which received €6.405 million through three requests. Together, these two ministries accounted for more than half of all funds allocated over the nine months. Distribution of funding by ministries: | Ministry | Allocated | | ----------------------------------------------------- | ------------ | | Ministry of Welfare | 9.040 million € | | Ministry of Health | 6.405 million € | | Ministry of Agriculture | 2.994 million € | | Ministry of Transport | 2.368 million € | | Ministry of Education and Science | 1.915 million € | | Ministry of Culture | 1.914 million € | | Ministry of Finance | 1.747 million € | | Ministry of the Interior | 1.526 million € | | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 865,100 € | | Cabinet of Ministers | 503,400 € | | Ministry of Smart Governance and Regional Development | 252,400 € | | Ministry of Defense | 236,900 € | | State Audit Office | 168,400 € | | Central Election Commission | 83,000 € | | Ministry of Climate and Energy | 49,300 € | | Ministry of Justice | 46,300 € | At the same time, the number of requests did not always correspond to the size of the allocated amounts. For example, the Ministry of Transport received €2.368 million through 13 requests, while the Ministry of Health required only three requests to obtain €6.405 million. ### In September, the reserve was increased by €12.3 million Initially, the state budget for 2026 provided for €88.3 million for unforeseen expenses. This is €21.4 million less than in 2025. However, in September, the government decided to redistribute an additional €12.3 million to the reserve from the budget programs and subprograms of ministries and other central government institutions. As a result, the total funding volume of the program reached approximately €100.6 million. ### What reserve funds can be spent on The "Unforeseen Expenses Fund" program is intended to finance activities of special state importance that were not foreseen when drafting the main budget. Money can also be directed to eliminate the consequences of natural disasters and catastrophes, compensate for the damage caused by them, and other unforeseen needs. To obtain funding, the relevant sectoral ministry must submit a separate request. As of the end of September, most of the reserve planned for 2026 remained unused.
