PM Borissov: “Bulgaria Deserves a Place in the Eurozone Waiting Room”

Bulgaria will work for achieving constructive compromises on all important topics for the European Union and will rely on a partner dialogue with all EU Member States during the Bulgarian Presidency. This was announced by Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov on 29^th of September in Tallinn, where he is participating in a digital summit of the EU.

Prior to the start of the forum, Boyko Borissov had formal meetings with the President of the European Council Donald Tusk, the Prime Ministers of Italy and the Netherlands, Paolo Gentiloni and Mark Rutte, and the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, with an emphasis on Bulgaria’s admission to the Eurozone and Schengen.

During the talks with the European leaders, Boyko Borissov said Bulgaria does not pose a risk to the Eurozone and deserves to be in the ‘waiting room’ because it meets all admission criteria.

Borisov highlighted the country's good macroeconomic performance and pointed out that 2016 was the first fiscal year with a budget surplus reported since 2008. He added that Bulgaria has the third lowest government-debt-to-GDP ratio in the EU after Estonia and Luxembourg. Borissov noted the growth of the Bulgarian economy and the sucsessful fight against smuggling.

Donald Tusk told Borissov that Bulgaria is a leader, and he can see Borissov’s personal efforts as a PM. Tusk assured Borissov he can rely on him about everything both during the Presidency and for entry into the Eurozone 'waiting room',

Bulgaria’s admission in Schengen and the way the country guards the external border of the EU were the focus of the conversation with his Italian and Dutch counterparts, Paolo Gentiloni and Mark Rutte. "Bulgaria is on the right track," Rutte told Borissov and appreciated the government's successes in the fight against smuggling and corruption.

“We have always had respect for each other. We have reviewed what has been done so far. I hope we will have more success in the coming months,”Borissov said.

On this topic, Borisov said he had talked with German Chancellor Merkel and French President Macron at an official dinner for the leaders the night before( 28^th of September).

“I think things are going well. We just have to keep doing our work in Bulgaria,“ PM said.

“We will work to persuade Germany and the Netherlands, who are still hesitant, that at least by air and water we should be admiited to Shengen as soon as possible, “Borissov said. He also pointed out that in May 2018, when he will invite the European leaders to the summit "European Union and Western Balkans”, he will take PM Rutte for a visit to the external borders and will also show him how the anti-smuggling centre works.

At today's forum in Tallinn on the future of high technology and digitization – an area in which the Estonian hosts area leader in the EU - the Bulgarian Prime Minister pointed out that rapid strides have been made in Bulgaria regarding the introduction of e-governance and he hopes the results will become evident within the country’s Presidency of the Council of European Union next year.

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