21.01.2025
It is extremely important for the Bulgarian government to hold meetings in the European institutions in the first hours of its office in order to state clearly and firmly our unshakable understanding of Bulgaria’s European future and the path on which we have embarked with determination. This statement was made by Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov after he met with the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola in Strasbourg. At their joint briefing, Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov specially thanked for the broad European support for Bulgaria’s full accession to the Schengen area and expressed confidence that the benefits are about to become visible.
Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov pointed out that serious work lies ahead on both the Bulgarian and European budgets and on the multiannual financial frameworks. We all are aware that issues related to competitiveness, stability, sustainability of public finances and policies cannot be put on hold if we want both Europe, and Bulgaria in a united Europe, to be competitive and an island of security, Mr. Jeliazkov said. The Prime Minister noted the budget as a key issue for Bulgaria in the coming months. As he said, the goal is to guarantee stable public finances, and thus to enable important policies that relate to energy security and connectivity, social measures and speedier implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
It is very important for us that the competitiveness of the Bulgarian economy be ensured by fast legislation decisions, Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov said further and noted that a legislating and governing program is being drawn up. Today, the Joint Governance Council took the relevant decisions to that effect, Mr. Jeliazkov recalled. Also, the Prime Minister said that the drafting process of the state budget bill would be completed within a month. We will try to reassure our European partners, in the course of this year, of Bulgaria’s capacity to manage its public finances well and to be a benefit to the Eurozone and not a problem to it, Prime Minister Rossen Jelizakov said further.
For her part, the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola described the current visit of Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov as a sign of Bulgaria’s commitment to the European path and the determination of the government to work towards the adoption of the Euro. Roberta Metsola congratulated Rossen Jeliazkov on the political efforts made and noted that the reforms, though difficult, lead to significant results. “After 13 years of work, Bulgaria has taken its rightful place in the Schengen area. In addition, your country is in the final stage of preparation for accession to the Eurozone – a step that will bring it even closer to the heart of the European Union,” the European Parliament President also pointed out. Roberta Metsola underscored the European Parliament’s support for the Bulgarian government’s ambitious program and expressed her desire to visit Bulgaria soon.
