Kurdistan Region Cabinet Discusses 2027 Budget, Academic Year

At a Glance

The Kurdistan Region Council of Ministers is discussing preparations for the 2026–2027 academic year and unresolved files with Baghdad.
The Education and Higher Education ministries are presenting plans for the start of the new academic year.
A high-level government delegation is presenting the results of recent talks with Iraq’s finance, oil, and planning ministries.
The draft 2027 federal budget and the Kurdistan Region’s share based on census data are under review.

The Kurdistan Region Council of Ministers is meeting to discuss preparations for the 2026–2027 academic year and the Region’s financial share in Iraq’s draft 2027 federal budget.

Key Statements and Focus Area

Baghdad talks: The Kurdistan Region negotiating delegation is presenting the outcomes of its recent official meetings with Iraq’s ministries of finance, oil, and planning, as well as discussions with Kurdish MPs in Baghdad.
2027 budget: The main focus is securing the Kurdistan Region’s share in the 2027 federal budget, with the recent general census being considered as the basis for determining financial entitlements.

The first agenda item focuses on finalizing preparations for the 2026–2027 academic year and meeting the needs of schools and universities.

The Ministry of Education is presenting its report on school building preparations, textbook distribution, and the official start date for classes.

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research is also presenting its plan for admitting 12th-grade graduates to universities and institutes for the 2026–2027 academic year.

Teaching staff allocations and administrative requirements for educational institutions are also being organized ahead of school reopenings.

The KRG negotiating delegation has been involved in discussions on the preparation of Iraq’s draft 2027 federal budget, including the Kurdistan Region’s constitutional and financial entitlements.

FYI

A high-level Kurdistan Region government delegation arrived in Baghdad on September 8 to participate directly in discussions on the draft 2027 federal budget. The delegation includes the ministers of finance and economy and natural resources, along with senior officials from the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Planning.

The delegation has since held meetings with federal ministries and Kurdish parliamentary blocs to discuss the Region’s financial and constitutional rights and its position on the 2027 budget.