September 2, 2010


The report was presented at the sitting of the National Assembly on September 2, 2010. It reflected the participation of Bulgaria in the process of taking decisions in the European Union during the first half of 2010 and the priorities of the country in the second half of the year. Energy, agriculture and regional policy are set to be the priorities of Bulgaria during the Belgian Presidency of the European Union /July-December, 2010/.

PM Boyko Borisov notes in the report that in the debate on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy after 2013, Bulgaria will hold the position that direct payments are a necessary element which must be preserved. Bulgaria sees the security of energy supply and the development of new technologies as key elements to the new Action plan of the European energy policy in the period 2010-2020. As a regional policy priority, the country will take the initiative to prepare a regional strategy for the Danube Region as an instrument for achieving territorial cohesion.

The effective absorption of EU funds will also be a major priority of the country. Boyko Borisov said that the use of funds under all European programs has improved. As of 31 August, over 627 million euro were absorbed. He talked about the reasons for the ongoing excessive deficit procedure initiated by the European Commission against Bulgaria. Borisov said that the government is planning for a deficit of not more than 2.5% in 2011, 1.5 per cent in 2012 and 1 percent in 2013 and among the main priorities of the government until December 2010 are to address the consequences of the economic and financial crisis and the implementation of the new priorities and objectives of Europe 2020 Strategy.

The Prime Minister states in the report that in response to the recommendations of the European Commission under the Cooperation and Evaluation mechanism, the government has approved a schedule of urgent measures for the next four months of the year in the field of judicial reform and the the fight against corruption and organized crime. Among the key measures, Boyko Borisov noted the preparation of the new Penal Code, improved legislation to counter the conflict of interest; amending legislation related to the withdrawal of assets acquired through illegal activity, increased professional training of police, prosecutors and judges.

The Prime Minister reported that in the first half of 2010 when the EU was chaired by Spain, Bulgaria has coordinated its positions on all issues discussed and successfully has defended its national interests in the decision making process of the EU and has followed its commitments as member of the EU to introduce and implement the European legislation into its internal one. He pointed out that the relations with the European Commission were carried in the spirit of a constructive dialogue and cooperation.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Simeon Djankov answered questions of members of the parliament in respect to the surplus budget spending of the National Health Insurance Fund since the year 2000.

The parliament elected Dobroslav Dimitrov as chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee and released the previous one, Zivko Todorov from PG GERB.

Svetlana Angelova from PG GERB was elected deputy chair of the Labour and Social Policy Committee. The MPs nominated Daniela Daritkova / PG GERB/ to become deputy chair of the Health Committee. Valentin Nikolov / PG GERB/ replaced Svetlana Angelova as a member of the Budget and Finance Committee.