site.btaCabinet Adopts Five Key Priorities in Governance Programme

The Council of Ministers adopted here on Wednesday five key priorities in Bulgaria's Governance Programme for the period between June 2023 to December 2024, Cabinet's press service reported. The five priorities are Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen area by the end of 2023, joining the eurozone from January 1 2025, curbing inflation, implementing the reforms and projects of the National Recovery and Sustainability Plan and improving the efficiency and transparency of municipal project management.

Schengen accession  

The aim is to implement all the necessary activities to meet the requirements of the European partners for Bulgaria's accession to Schengen. The government will strengthen border control by creating an efficient infrastructure and organization of work, which will contribute to the common security of the European borders. It will introduce a set of new anti-corruption measures and reform the security services. The abolition of borders between Bulgaria and its EU neighbours will lead to a substantial easing of traffic and a reduction in border stays, giving an additional boost to tourism, trade and all other areas of cross-border business.

Eurozone accession

Bulgaria will work closely with European institutions and partners to fulfil all the necessary conditions for a successful completion of the process. The government will propose budgets for 2023 and 2024 with a 3% annual budget deficit. It will carry out a large-scale explanatory campaign on the benefits of the introduction of the single European currency, which aims to refute the misinformation being spread and allay the concerns of some Bulgarian citizens. In it, the government will defend the benefits of the euro currency for citizens, businesses and the economy, such as the abolition of currency conversion fees; the stimulation of European investment in Bulgaria and the creation of more, better quality and better paid jobs; the strengthening of the competitiveness of Bulgarian enterprises; the increase in price and economic stability and the acceleration of growth; the easing and cheapening of trade for Bulgarian enterprises in the euro area and beyond; better integrated and therefore more efficient financial markets.

Containing inflation

The government will take the necessary measures and reforms to stabilize prices of goods and services and create a favourable economic environment for businesses and citizens. The Council of Ministers will support and encourage the development of innovation and industry as well as agriculture. It will strengthen controls on the appropriate use of subsidies and against potential misuse of the funds provided.

National Recovery and Resilience Plan reforms

The Cabinet will take concrete actions, including via legislative initiatives, to ensure the effective implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan and the absorption of the next payments. The foundations will be laid for a green and digital transformation of the economy in the context of the ambitious objectives of the European Green Pact. The implementation of the Plan will restore, develop and enhance the growth potential of the economy, thereby achieving the long-term strategic objective of convergence of the Bulgarian economy and alignment of income levels in Bulgaria with the European average.

Municipal projects management 

The Government is planning targeted financial resources for municipal projects, which will allow municipalities to implement their priority initiatives for the development and improvement of services for citizens. A predictable and objective project evaluation methodology will be developed to ensure maximum publicity and transparency in the appropriate utilization of funds for municipalities.

The Governance Programme for the period from June 2023 to December 2024 is the result of an agreement reached between the coalition Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) and the coalition GERB - UDF.

The Governance Programme contains specific activities of the government in implementation of the commitments on legislative initiatives agreed between the two supporting coalitions before the formation of the cabinet. The document sets out realistic objectives and measures that will lead to real and measurable results, in line with Bulgaria's National Development Programme 2030 and the National Recovery and Sustainability Plan. The actions are secured with funding from EU funds and the state budget. 

The Governance Programme has been prepared in line with the structure of the Council of Ministers, and each of the ministers and the ministry entrusted to them will implement the measures in the coming months in their respective portfolio.