December 1, 2009



The need to quickly sign the decrees for the next year tax laws and the speeding up of the legislative process and the state budget for 2010 adoption were the topics discussed at the joint meeting held between President Georgi Parvanov, the Head of the National Assembly Tsetska Tsacheva and Prime Minister Boyko Borisov. The meeting was at the initiative of Mrs. Tsetska Tsacheva and was also joined by the Prime Minister so that he could get acquainted in person with the president’s stands on the tax legislation proposed by the government.


“The meeting sends an important signal that the institutions in Bulgaria work together and in the spirit of understanding, "said the prime minister. “This is extremely important for Europe, for its confidence and trust in a country, which translates into the provision of European funds and benefits important to people, he said. Differences do exist because of the different nature of our institutions. The message for the outside world though has to be that there are serious people in Bulgaria, who would never put their personal interest over the interest of the state, and this is what is happening right now”, added the Prime Minister.


The National Assembly President Tsetska Tsacheva expressed her satisfaction and indicated that the signing of the five tax law promulgation decrees by the president of the Republic will enable tomorrow the lawmakers to start the second reading of the state budget for 2010 and will make it possible to adopt it until the end of the year. She also noted that today, when the Lisbon Treaty enters into force, the institutions in Bulgaria demonstrate before the society their will to work together on the issues of public interest.


President Georgi Parvanov noted that, at the meeting , he voiced his concerns and reservations regarding certain provisions in the tax laws such as the one on the personal income taxes, abandoning the tax incentives for young families. The President pointed out that at the meeting, he asked for assurances that this was not going to happen. The Head of State was presented with the report of the Budget and Finance Committee, which was instrumental in formulating the policies behind the tax amendments.

Mr. Parvanov also expressed concern with the proposed introduction of Value Added Tax for attorneys’ services, which triggered public discussion and was rejected by the Supreme Council of the Bar Association. He added that he intends to sign the decree, aiming not to hinder the legislative process, but will ask the Constitutional Court to rule on the issue. According to the president, he is not against the tax in order to protect the interest of lawyers, but because of the impact the tax will have on the citizens in need of legal protection.