site.btaDeputy Prime Minister Kuneva: Security Should Be Measured in Economic Growth, Jobs

106 POLITICS-EU-DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Deputy Prime Minister Kuneva:
Security Should Be Measured
in Economic Growth, Jobs


Brussels, November 19 (BTA correspondent Nikolay Jeliazkov) -
Speaking after a EU General Affairs Council on Tuesday, Deputy
Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva said that security should already
be measured in economic growth and jobs.

Kuneva commented on issues related to the Cooperation and
Verification Mechanism (CVM) and Bulgaria's entry to Schengen.

The Deputy Prime Minister projected that national GDP would
increase if the country entered Schengen.

Approached whether she shared expectations about a strongly
negative CVM report, she said that the government would make
every effort so that Bulgaria received a positive political
assessment. Kuneva recommended going ahead with the election of
a Supreme Court of Cassation president and chief judicial
inspector so that they are acknowledged in the report.

Kuneva said that the government should set out clear deadlines
for all strategies, adding that the first several months in a
government's term are most conducive to ambitious goals. Of
Schengen, Kuneva said that the facility has economic dimensions
and that the government would try to lift the travel-free
restrictions border by border.

Asked whether the goals to scrap the CVM and enter the Schengen
area are achievable during the government's term, Kuneva said
the government should aim to serve out its full term and to this
end it needs to do three things: set out its priorities, be
credible and make a political commitment. LI/PP