Agenda: the single maritime operator of northern delivery, the construction of purification facilities near Lake Baikal, the strategy of action for family and demographic policy until 2036.
Meeting on current issues with deputy prime ministers
Meeting on current issues with deputy prime ministers
Tatyana Golikova at a meeting on current issues with deputy prime ministers
Meeting on current issues with deputy prime ministers
Mikhail Mishustin’s opening remarks
Excerpts from the transcript:
Mikhail Mishustin: Good morning, colleagues.
Today we will begin our discussion with northern delivery. This is an issue of extreme importance for the well-being of people in the Extreme North and equated localities. Delivery periods are limited there due to natural conditions, but the functioning of nearly 3,000 cities and towns depends on them. Nearly 3.5 million tonnes of food, medicines, fuel and other essential products are to be delivered there this year.
The President has pointed out that the supply of these regions must be organised rhythmically, in accordance with a schedule, without fail and in full. A legal framework has been created for this purpose. The Government has adopted a number of decisions aimed at completing this work.
It is important that a single maritime operator of northern delivery has been appointed, and its functions and operating rules have been determined. This includes a procedure for its interaction with northern delivery participants, and the coordination and changes in the routes and schedules of the vessels’ movements within the framework of regular coastal shipping between sea ports.
Our Extreme North is not only a strategic region. It is a region where people live and work in extreme weather and climatic conditions. It is our task to ensure that they have everything they need, particularly essential goods.
Another document we will discuss concerns the protection of Lake Baikal. A government resolution has been drafted for the provision and distribution of regional subsidies for modernising and building purification facilities near the lake. This primarily concerns two Russian regions: Buryatia and the Irkutsk Region.
The President pointed out in his Address to the Federal Assembly that the creation of modern, safe infrastructure near Lake Baikal must be based on the zero pollution principle, that is, no waste or untreated sewage of any kind must enter the lake.
The Government is working on this within the national project Ecological Well-Being and the federal project Water of Russia. A number of necessary facilities have been built in the Baikal area. At the same time, requirements for the standards of purification must be the highest possible.
Many of our citizens, including families with children, would like to visit that area. Our businesses have an interest in it as well. They are ready to invest in tourism and develop infrastructure in the adjacent regions. It is important to create comfortable conditions for both tourists and investors.
The government resolution specifies the procedure for issuing regional subsidies, including the criteria for selecting nature protection projects. I would like to note that we must ensure strict control over these projects because of their influence on our protected territories and the ecology.
In particular, the rules provide for round-the-clock video monitoring at such facilities and online streaming. This will help enhance the efficient use of the subsidies.
Over 9.5 billion roubles have been earmarked in the three-year federal budget for these purposes. These funds will be invested in the construction and renovation of purification facilities near the lake.
We believe that these measures will help improve the ecological situation in Lake Baikal, which will subsequently have a positive effect on the environment and on the living conditions of local residents and tourists.
Now, to another important topic. Preserving the population, improving the health and wellbeing of our people constitute our national goals, as set by the leader of the state. The Government has approved a strategy for Russia’s family and demographic policy, as well as for supporting large families in Russia. This strategy covers a time period through 2036 and addresses the entire scope of tasks that will ensure that more babies are born and conditions for their upbringing and development are created throughout Russia.
Enhancing support for current and future mums and dads is an important area of work. Assistance must be available in all life situations. We will improve opportunities for balancing work or study with having children, and work on improving living conditions.
We will continue to improve the quality and availability of medical aid while focusing on enhancing the system for the protection of motherhood and childhood, as well as preventing illnesses, especially in the area of reproductive health.
Ms Golikova, please tell us more about the strategy and steps towards its implementation.
Tatyana Golikova at a meeting on current issues with deputy prime ministers
Tatyana Golikova: Prime Minister, colleagues.
This strategy represents one of the significant outcomes of the Year of the Family, marked in 2024. The goals of this strategy strictly correspond to the national development goals determined by the President.
I would like to note that Russia’s leading demographics institutions worked on this document. They were all involved in this work, along with regional and federal executive bodies, State Duma members, senators, and public organisations. It is important to note that for the first time, a document of this kind has been discussed with the parent community. We held eight demographic forums, one in each federal district, while developing this strategy. Regions in each federal district had the opportunity to present their proposals for the strategy. These proposals were analysed and incorporated into this document.
It is important that, while developing our approaches, we considered the specifics of the complex demographic situation in Russia. Therefore, the objectives in the strategy are set for achievement during a period when the number of women of reproductive age will be in decline until 2046. For this reason, we focused on measures that will be instrumental in increasing the birth rate, leading to population growth.
Based on research and discussions conducted, we have identified several key priorities.
First: strengthening the family institution, safeguarding and preserving traditional spiritual and moral values, and promoting them throughout society. As I have previously noted, considerable progress was achieved during the Year of the Family. However, at least four to five years of sustained, meticulous communication efforts – utilising all available tools – are required to deliver tangible outcomes. Initiatives under the Family national project are designed to advance these objectives.
Second: developing a system that motivates citizens of all ages to adopt healthy lifestyles and creates conditions for the timely prevention of diseases. From the perspective of the strategy we are adopting, the key avenues for reducing mortality and increasing life expectancy lie in promoting the principles of healthy living, disease prevention, and mitigating exposure to major risk factors. These include well-known issues such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, sedentary lifestyle, and poor dietary habits. Each of these constitutes a distinct component of the strategy.
Third: protecting maternal, paternal, and child health, and enhancing the reproductive health of citizens overall. In this area, we are establishing frameworks to safeguard reproductive health, enable early disease detection –including through regular medical check-ups – and prioritise adolescent and male health. This topic, widely debated in society, remains a central focus of our efforts.
The national project also envisages additional investments in this sphere.
It is important to note that the Government’s consistent work under the President’s leadership in this direction has already yielded clear results. These include a reduction in the infant mortality rate, with the record-low figure standing out as one of the outcomes of the Healthcare national project.
Fourth: improving the comprehensive system of support for families with children. We are making steady progress in reducing poverty levels. As you have noted, the year 2024 marked a significant milestone, with the rate reaching 7.2 percent – the lowest figure since the early 2000s and in the history of the Russian Federation. Particular attention is being paid to reducing poverty among large families. To this end, we will refine existing support measures. An example of such refinement is the family tax benefit, which will take effect from 2026. Additionally, measures include increases to the minimum wage, salaries, and related areas.
Fifth: we are working to help people successfully balance their family life and professional careers by expanding state services for childcare, after-school programmes and corporate initiatives that support working families.
We are establishing support centres for young families at universities in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Additionally, at the end of 2024, we teamed up with the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions to approve the so-called corporate demographic standard, which should be adopted by all employers.
Finally, we are implementing the family-centrism principle in all projects, as per the President’s instruction. All national projects stipulate family support measures.
The strategy will be implemented in two stages: from 2025 until 2030 and from 2031 until 2036. A detailed action plan will be developed for each stage. This work is carried out together with the Presidential Council on Demographic and Family Policy, and with Valentina Matviyenko.
The strategy focuses on achieving 13 key indicators, with the most important being life expectancy, an increase in the number of large families and the reduction of their poverty levels. However, the most complex and perhaps the most critical indicator remains the total fertility rate.
We will continue working in these areas to implement the approved strategy.
Mikhail Mishustin: Thank you, Ms Golikova.
Undoubtedly, supporting the younger generation and Russian families requires large-scale and coordinated efforts at all levels, with the direct involvement of regions and the expert community. Most importantly, we must take into account feedback from the people and use their input to shape a comprehensive support system for families with children, as directed by the President.
