Recognizing the importance of civil society engagement and participation in the budget planning process, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, with the support of the European Union, held a public discussion.

The discussion was attended by Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Tatevik Stepanyan, Secretary General Artak Mangasaryan and representatives of civil society organizations cooperating with the Ministry.

Ministry staff presented the 2027 budget planning process for the sectors of children's issues, women's issues and human trafficking, older persons, and persons with disabilities. In particular, they outlined the indicators of the 2027–2029 Medium-Term Expenditure Program, the mechanisms and results of budget quality assessments, as well as new initiatives.

Emphasizing the importance of public engagement and participation in budgeting and financial planning, the speakers noted that the effective allocation of public resources is a key prerequisite for providing targeted and comprehensive services to people facing difficult life circumstances.

The meeting continued in a question-and-answer format. Participants discussed the expansion of service provision, new care organization tools, strengthening cooperation between the state and civil society, and other related issues.

The public discussion was organized through the cooperation of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and the European Union within the framework of the project “EU for Gender Equality Reform Helpdesk (Phase II).”