A Kurdistan Region Finance Ministry delegation will visit Baghdad today to discuss Iraq’s 2027 federal budget.
The delegation will meet with officials from Iraq’s Finance Ministry on Thursday. The talks will focus on the Kurdistan Region’s share of the 2027 budget and its financial demands.
The Kurdistan Regional Government has already submitted its proposed requirements for next year’s budget to Baghdad. Officials sent the proposal electronically and in paper form before the federal government submits the draft budget law to parliament.
Two sources from the Kurdistan Region and Iraqi finance ministries confirmed that the delegation will travel to Baghdad today. They said the meeting will address the Region’s budget allocation and financial rights.
Meanwhile, the KRG has presented detailed data to support its demands. The government wants Baghdad to guarantee regular salary payments for public employees and beneficiaries across the Kurdistan Region.
In addition, the KRG wants Baghdad to treat the Region’s salaries equally with those in other parts of Iraq. The government also seeks funding to restart public-sector recruitment, which has remained suspended since 2014.
Another key demand involves employee promotions. The KRG wants Baghdad to provide funding to restart promotions that have remained frozen in the Region since 2016.
Furthermore, the Region has requested equal salaries and benefits for political prisoners, martyrs’ families, and people with special needs.
The KRG also wants Baghdad to allocate funds for additional financial payments to tens of thousands of retirees. These payments include a 12-month gratuity for eligible retirees.
The government has also requested funds to clear accumulated salary payments owed to military and civilian retirees.
Moreover, the KRG wants Baghdad to make the employment status of contract teachers and employees permanent.
The upcoming talks come as Baghdad prepares the 2027 federal budget. Therefore, the negotiations could play an important role in determining the Kurdistan Region’s financial position next year.
Both sides will need to address salary payments, public-sector funding, employee rights, and the Region’s overall budget allocation.
The delegation’s visit could also open the way for further negotiations before Baghdad finalizes the 2027 budget proposal and sends it to parliament.
