site.btaBulgarian President Plevneliev Calls for Genuine Reforms in Judicial System and Energy Independence

Bulgarian President Plevneliev Calls for Genuine Reforms in Judicial System and Energy Independence

Sofia, March 19 (BTA) - Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev
Thursday appealed for genuine reforms in the judicial system,
more funds for defence, energy independence, and a law on
European funds in his traditional address to the National
Assembly after a month of political consultations. The head of
State thanked the parties which participated in the
consultations, the responsibility they showed and wished a
successful mandate to the 43rd National Assembly.

Plevneliev declared he will launch a national referendum on the
electoral rights of Bulgarian citizens and an agreement has been
reached for the referendum to be held hand-in-hand with the
local elections in the fall.

The head of State also outlined four priority targets for
Bulgaria's EU Presidency: Schengen, accession to the ERM II
exchange rate mechanism, the Single Supervisory Mechanism of the
European Banking Union, and launch of the European Energy Union
in Bulgaria.

The consultations showed that there is potential to achieve
political agreement, Plevneliev said, expressing the hope that
examples of political responsibility will be given.

The major problem in the economy are low investments and growth
in the past seven years. Legal security and working regulatory
authorities are required to attract investors, he added.

The President recalled that the public has pinpointed the
judicial system as a key priority and the National Assembly has
demonstrated a high degree of political responsibility by
approving the strategy of reform in the judiciary. He also
appealed for stepping up this reform which cannot be put off any
longer.

The subject of the need of revisions to the Constitution was
also raised repeatedly during the consultations. The basic law
can be changed but that requires a profound analysis, he
continued.

Plevneliev also dwelt on the political will and public consensus
to become part of the Schengen area, as well as calling for
2015 to be a record year in terms of absorption of EU funds and
the passage of a law eradicating administrative obstacles and
introducing e-application for projects and effective control. He
also insisted that there should be a new strategy in the fight
against corruption that should be adopted this year.

Plevneliev also spoke about the general political agreement
about a reform in the sector, citing the three pillars on which
the European Energy Union will stand: diversification,
liberalization and energy efficiency. It is not important how
much natural gas is transported through Bulgaria but what price
the households here pay, for Bulgaria has had the highest price
of gas for decades. The implementation of the large-scale plan
for energy efficiency and rehabilitation of buildings will
ensure more visible benefits than any of the so-called "Grand
Slam" projects, he said.

Education, healthcare, the pension system, the security sector,
the administrative, water and energy reforms are fields in which
the public expects to see the concentrated efforts of
government and Parliament, Plevneliev said.

The head of State also spoke of the importance of financial
stability and security, which can only be achieved by means of
working regulatory authorities. There was a 1.7 per cent growth
of the economy in 2014 and a revival in most sectors. This year
is planned with a 0.8 per cent growth but Bulgaria can achieve
up to 2 per cent growth, and even up to 3 per cent growth in
2016, he optimistically said.

Everyone agrees that there is no alternative but the peaceful
one of diplomacy to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. According to
Plevneliev, Bulgarians should not split into Russophiles and
Russophobes because Europe is this country's civilization
choice. He also raised the issue of the development of
Bulgarian armed forces in an extremely negative international
environment.

"There can be no consensus in a country where poverty is
increasingly pressing on people," BSP-Left Bulgaria Floor Leader
Mihail Mikov said in a statement following the PresidentТs
address. "They say there is a potential for political agreement,
but there may be a potential for political deals behind the
backs of Bulgarian citizens," he commented.

"The goals of BSP-Left Bulgaria differ from those outlined by
the President," Mikov said. "BSP wants fairer payment for work
and fairer taxation." In his opinion, the policy in the energy
sector will lead to higher prices for Bulgarians.