Ljubljana - Prime Minister Janez Janša highlighted record annual investments in excess of EUR 2 billion as he presented the budgets for 2022 and 2023 at the National Assembly on Thursday, describing the budget bills as "optimistic and development-oriented".

For healthcare investments alone over EUR 200 million is budgeted each year. "In two years more money will be spent on healthcare investment than had been used in the entire previous decade," he said.

Significant funding has also been set aside for road and rain infrastructure, flood defence, water supply, education, care homes, sports, culture, science and digital connectivity.

At the same time, the budgets have a social and sustainable component, according to Janša.

The government drew up a revised budget proposal for 2022, a budget proposal for 2023 and accompanying documents against the backdrop of a gradual economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic as costs associated with the outbreak continue to run high.

Compared to the original 2022 budget passed by the National Assembly in November last year, the government is now budgeting revenue by about 4% higher, at EUR 11.47 billion, as expenditure is being expanded by about a tenth to EUR 13.94 billion.

The draft budget for 2023 projects for revenue to increase to EUR 11.84 billion and expenditure to decrease to EUR 13.36 billion.

Janša pointed out that Covid stimulus measures were being wound down and investment expenditure increasing.

He said the level of tax receipts had already exceeded last year's, which was "one of the best results in the eurozone and the EU".

EU recovery funds represent a substantial part of the budget package. Slovenia will receive EUR 330 million in recovery and resilience funds next year and EUR 453 million in 2023.

Finance Minister Andrej Šircelj also highlighted investments, noting that they would generate higher value added, higher wages and higher corporate profits.

The presentation of the budget documents wrapped up the session. Before MPs debate the bills at the plenary, the documents will be debated by the parliamentary working bodies over the course of a week.