site.btaPossible Pension Reform Calls for Broad Public Discussion – Deputy PM Donchev

“When it comes to reform, the good standard is to hold a broad public discussion,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Innovation and Growth Tomislav Donchev said on Monday, taking a journalist’s question about possible plans to increase the contribution towards a pension and to raise the retirement age. He said: “I would not like to speculate on the outcome of such a discussion. Let’s hear all voices first.” But he made it clear that he disapproves of the idea to increase the pension contribution and the retirement age.

Donchev noted that the deficit in the pension system has been there for decades, and many pensions are co-financed by the state budget.

In mid-April, MPs of GERB, BSP and TISP moved draft decisions to require the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, the Ministry of Finance, the National Social Security Institute, the Financial Supervision Commission and the National Revenue Agency to draw up a roadmap for upgrading the pension model within six months.