Deputy PM Atanas Pekanov: Preparations Begin for the Allocation of Between €15 billion and €20 billion from the Next EU Budget

At today's meeting of the Council of Ministers, we are launching the official process of planning and allocating funds from the next EU budget and the next programming period. This covers the period from 2028 to 2034, Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Pekanov said on November 4.

"Bulgaria, like all other Member States, should draw up a single National and Regional Partnership Plan. It will include investments and reforms, along the lines of what we know from the Recovery and Resilience Plan. This will be a national plan that addresses national priorities: higher economic growth, social cohesion, world-class education, healthcare accessible throughout Bulgaria, infrastructure projects, energy projects, and projects in the fields of transport and connectivity – initiatives that will make our economy and society stronger," the Deputy Prime Minister said.

"Next week, we will hold our first official meeting with all the ministries and provide the European Commission's current guidance on how this process is structured. Months of discussions lie ahead as we work to draw up a plan that meets national needs, the priorities of our government and the needs of society as a whole. Over the next two weeks, I will also invite the social partners, nationally representative employers, trade unions and employers' organisations. The total amount of this future plan has not yet been fixed, as it will be determined by important, difficult and intensive negotiations at European level over the overall size of the next EU budget. I can say that we are talking about between €15 billion and €20 billion to be programmed and allocated to the investments we will make. There must be clearly justified reforms to move Bulgaria forward and address the country-specific recommendations we receive from the European Commission. These funds must be used as effectively as possible to support economic growth and Bulgarian society," he added.

Asked whether it would be possible to reduce the deficit below the level currently projected, Pekanov replied that every effort was being made to bring it down.