Holding its weekly session on Monday due to the holiday-shortened week, the government hopes to make important progress as it seeks to finalise the supplementary budget by mid-January.

The breakdown of spending by the individual departments will be reviewed as the government weighs up possible additional measures for next year.

The government has already reached a deal with the public sector trade unions on pay cuts, which secures EUR 350 million in savings, and raised the financial services tax as part of which it expects to raise EUR 30m in additional revenues.

The main issue currently is whether to push ahead with plans for higher CO2 emission levies, which has angered industry.

In a rare show of unity, business and trade unions have criticised the proposed measure. The Pergam trade union confederation and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) will hold a rally against it on Tuesday.

The government has not taken a final decision on the levies but Economic Development and Technology Minister Zdravko Počivalšek indicated last week that there was room for negotiation.

Meanwhile, talks are also underway with the municipalities on cuts in spending on local government.

The measures are needed after the original 2015 budget, which was passed late in 2013, was made inoperable by the failure of the planned real estate tax.

Higher spending on interest and pensions than planned have also necessitated the adoption of the supplementary budget.