site.btaEU-Russia Tensions Have Caused Extra Military Spending, Bulgarian Prime Minister Says in Brussels

EU-Russia Tensions Have Caused Extra Military Spending, Bulgarian Prime Minister Says in Brussels

Brussels, March 19 (BTA correspondent Nikolay Jeliazkov) -
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said on Thursday that
tensions between Russia and the EU have led to extra military
spending amid the economic crisis. "When [the Russian Navy's]
Northern Fleet conducts drills, all other countries go on combat
alert. This costs money, money spent during an economic crisis
- more money for arms, for an arms race," Borissov said,
speaking to Bulgarian journalists in Brussels.

He added: "This is a disaster for our economies, which are
barely recovering from the financial and economic crisis of the
previous years. I hope that Russia and the EU will find common
ground soon for the benefit of the people."

The Prime Minister is in Brussels for an European Council
meeting.

He said that Bulgaria supported the sanctions against Russia
from the very beginning, although this entailed heavy losses for
Bulgaria, particularly in the field of tourism. He expressed
hope that the ceasefire in Ukraine will be observed and lasting
peace will be established in the region.

Borissov also discussed the resistance of some EU member states
against a European Commission proposal that energy agreements
should be coordinated in advance in the framework of the
European Energy Union initiative. The Prime Minister noted that
Bulgaria has already fulfilled the requirement. He said that an
effort was made to put the question of the European Energy Union
on the agenda of the current European Council meeting, because
it may be unfair that some member states resist what everyone is
required to do - and this should be discussed by the leaders of
the 28 member states. "Bulgaria has acted in the fairest and
most principled way as it has strictly followed all directions
given by the European Commission, but it practically lost three
large [energy] contracts," he said.

Bulgaria will insist that the proposed construction of a gas hub
in the country be included on the agenda of the European Energy
Union. Bulgaria also expects EU funding for its gas
interconnector with Greece and for its local gas prospecting
projects, he said.

Asked whether the conduct of the extreme Left in Greece is good
for the EU, Borissov said: "We should speak well of our
neighbours." He noted, however, that former government leaders
in Greece as well as current Greek politicians have always
wanted money from the EU and have always asked for loan
repayment delays, while Bulgaria has met all requirements of the
European Commission and has had the lowest government deficit.
"It is about time that our neighbours who want to be - and are -
in the Eurozone and the Schengen area begin to observe the
rules which they are committed to observe," Borissov said.