The 2009 draft budget was set during the Union State's 34th parliamentary session at 4.872 billion Russian rubles ($185 million), a 20% increase in contributions from Russia and Belarus from the 2008 budget of 4.061 billion rubles ($154 million).
Pavel Borodin, state secretary of the Union State, said Russia will contribute 3.167 billion rubles ($120 million), and Belarus will provide 1.705 billion rubles ($65 million).
The ex-Soviet neighbors have been in talks since 1997 to establish a Union State with a common economic, customs and political space, but negotiations have been complicated by a host of issues, including energy and financial disputes.
Borodin said the budget is expected to be approved at a session of the Russia-Belarus Union State Higher State Council scheduled for November 3.
