site.btaBulgaria Will Have Opportunity to Access EUR 22.3 Bln in 2028-2034 Programming Period, MEP Novakov Says

Bulgaria will have the opportunity to access EUR 22.3 billion in [European Union's] next programming period from 2028 to 2034, which is absolutely unprecedented, said Bulgarian MEP Andrey Novakov (GERB/European People's Party) on Wednesday at a joint briefing for Bulgarian journalists in Strasbourg, France, with MEPs Andrey Kovatchev and Emil Radev, both from GERB and European People's Party.

“The seven-year budget is EUR 2 trillion - hardly enough, but it is a step in the right direction,” Novakov emphasized. “Bulgaria is among those that will benefit most if we manage to get our money – something that was a mirage in previous years, but is now beginning to change,” he added.

He argued that the European Union must have its own revenue – “whether that means taxes on plastic bags and bank transactions or fairer taxes for internet giants.”

Novakov, who is the sponsor of a draft law on passenger rights in the European Parliament (EP), pointed out that there are several red lines that the EP will not allow to be crossed – compensation must be paid within 3 hours, airlines will cover EUR 200 for hotel accommodation under compensation conditions, compensation to be received immediately and without filling out forms, the airline to be liable for damaged or lost luggage at the airport, and ground operators to be held liable for lost or damaged luggage.

MEP Kovatchev pointed out that if the EU is not united, European business and the European economy will not be able to compete in the war of competition between different parts of the world. According to him, there are several financial instruments that should be used to reduce bureaucracy and increase competitiveness.

“Six packages of policies on agriculture, defence, and others have been introduced to make European funds more accessible,” he noted.

MEP Radev also commented on the EU's migration policies.

"Only 20% return to their countries of origin or where they came from, which is extremely low. The large package of five regulations that we adopted at the end of the last term will come into force next year, which will give a big boost to all procedures for returning illegal migrants to their countries of origin. We hope to achieve a higher percentage of returns, because only one in five is too little," he stressed.

According to him, this burdens the EU system and is a huge problem for internal security in Member States.

“The development of artificial intelligence is of paramount importance,” Radev added. "We are working with the private sector to unite and provide a technical response and commitment to invest in these technologies. Europe's sovereignty is very important. The US and China have taken a huge step forward in artificial intelligence, but there are virtually no regulations there, while in the EU there are, and this largely prevents us from catching up with them. This is important for business, but also for the military sector and defence," Radev added.