ERBIL () — Efforts to resolve the Kurdistan Region’s financial and fuel-related issues have intensified, with Iraqi Parliament Deputy Speaker Farhad Atrushi saying on Wednesday that discussions are underway with Baghdad over the Region’s financial entitlements, the timely payment of public-sector salaries, and an increase in fuel allocations.
Atrushi told that a delegation from the Kurdistan Region has held several meetings in Baghdad in recent days with political parties and representatives of the federal government to ensure the Region’s financial rights and entitlements are addressed in Iraq’s 2027 federal budget.
He said the Kurdistan Region’s proposals concerning the budget, employment, and other financial matters had been prepared in draft form and submitted to the Iraqi Council of Ministers. If approved, the proposals would be forwarded to the Iraqi Parliament as draft legislation.
However, Atrushi noted that the process could take several months due to Iraq’s current political circumstances.
Salary payments
Atrushi described the payment of salaries to Kurdistan Region public employees as one of the Region’s most important demands.
He said efforts would be made next week with Iraq’s finance minister to ensure that, if the current mechanism continues and 120 billion Iraqi dinars are deducted from the Region’s financial allocations, salaries for Kurdistan Region employees are nevertheless transferred without delay, in line with salary payments to federal government employees.
He stressed that salaries for Kurdistan Region employees should be transferred every 30 days, as is the case with other Iraqi provinces, rather than being delayed for 45 to 50 days as has sometimes occurred.
Atrushi said resolving the salary issue requires ensuring that the mechanism used for the Kurdistan Region does not result in longer delays compared with other parts of Iraq.
Fuel allocation
The fuel issue was also identified by Atrushi as a key subject in discussions between Erbil and Baghdad.
According to Atrushi, the Kurdistan Region is seeking an increase and a stable allocation of fuel to meet domestic demand.
He said the Region’s share has been set at 17.7 percent, which amounts to approximately 120,000 barrels per day, but that only around 50,000 barrels per day are currently being allocated to the Kurdistan Region.
Atrushi said the Region’s proposals had been submitted to the Iraqi Parliament’s Oil and Gas Committee and the federal oil minister, as well as formally sent to the Council of Ministers and the Iraqi prime minister.
He said approval had been granted for the proposals, but their implementation remains stalled due to what he described as political decisions and positions in Baghdad.
Atrushi emphasized that the issue cannot be resolved solely through a technical agreement, arguing that it also requires a political decision and implementation of the agreement reached between Erbil and Baghdad.
The latest discussions come as the Kurdistan Regional Government continues negotiations with the federal authorities over the Region’s financial entitlements, salary payments, and energy-related issues.
