site.btaBulgarian PM Borissov on French President Macron's Visit, Bulgarian EU Presidency, Road Toll System

Varna, on the Black Sea, August 12 (BTA) - Joint projects will be discussed during the August 25 visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Bulgaria, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said.

The talks on the projects began back in Paris, where the visit was agreed when Macron hosted Borissov in June. The French head of State will be accompanied by a 90-member delegation. The state visit will be combined with plenary sessions of teams on various subjects, Borissov explained. Industrial cooperation for the implementation of joint projects for the Land Forces and shipbuilding will be on the agenda as well, so that the projects implemented for Bulgaria could be complemented by the manufacture of exportable products in this country.

France is expected to be asked to back Bulgaria for quick entry into the eurozone waiting room.

Borissov also said that Bulgaria is ready for the Presidency of the EU Council and everything is going according to plan.

He is an optimist about the prospects for a very good European gas hub near Provadia (in Varna Region). The PM is convinced of that because "the people on whom this depends realize that the country is on the right track."

Borissov pointed out that the delay of the establishment of the Bulgarian road toll system due to deliberate appeals costs the public purse daily losses of 1.5 million leva. He added that if the system does not kick off on Monday, the State is ready to start setting it up on its own.

The PM commented that the opposition Socialist Party owes its good showing in the parliamentary elections to vote buying. In his words, this is proven, an MP has been brought to justice for this. "It is a fact that the charge is for the most monstrous crime in a democracy: vote buying," Borissov added.