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Opening the meeting, President Medvedev reminded those present that starting from 2010 all obligations to organise summer holidays for children have been transferred to the level of the federal constituent entities and the regions receive subsidies from the federal budget to cover the costs of holidays for children in difficult life situation.

Dmitry Medvedev noted that this year’s expenditures earmarked for summer holidays have decreased in a number of regions. In this connection the President stressed that despite the general financial difficulties, such spending should be included in the protected regional budget expenditures.

The main problems in this area involve infrastructure since the bulk of recreation facilities have deteriorated as the holiday camps have been built back in the 1960s-1980s. Also, much of these facilities have new owners; they have been retooled or reoriented and are underfinanced, while no new camps have been built.

To change the situation, it is necessary to develop infrastructure and work on the material and technical base of children’s recreation facilities, the President said.

Dmitry Medvedev also pointed out that special attention should be paid to security issues, including fire safety and transportation security, when transporting children to holiday locations, and to food quality. The President stressed that the quality of food supplied to children’s holiday camps should be the responsibility of not only the relevant agencies and services but the gubernatorial office as well.

During the meeting President Medvedev also noted that there is no clear agenda for developing and implementing a modern system for children’s recreation and holidays.

The meeting took place at the Levkovo children’s holiday camp located in the Moscow Region. Before the meeting, Dmitry Medvedev made a quick tour of the facility and talked to children currently staying there.