site.btaKristalina Georgieva: "If we Want to Succeed, Carping Is Not the Best Policy"

Kristalina Georgieva: "If we Want to Succeed, Carping Is Not the Best Policy"

Brussels, June 20 (BTA Correspondent Nikolay Jeliazkov) -
"Carping is not the best policy if we want to succeed. We should
 better look around, see the people who work well for themselves
 and for their families, for their countries, so as to give them
 more credit," European Commission Vice President (Budget and
Human Resources) Kristalina Georgieva say in a BTA interview.

Approached about Greece's possible default, she expressed the
hope that sound reason will prevail. "Public opinion in Greece
is adamant: Greeks want to stay in the Eurozone, they want to
stay in the EU. Let's hope that we will reach the point at which
 the opinion of the Greeks will determine the Government's
decision," Georgieva commented.

Regarding Bulgaria, she pointed out that the country is back on
the reform track. "The reforms are good for the country, as they
 can make us more competitive and stronger, but they take a lot
of effort and a lot of time in Bulgaria. Let's hope that this
time we'll carry them through to the end. People are tired of
waiting the completion of the reforms," the EC Vice President
noted.

She sees no reason why Bulgaria should rush its Eurozone entry.
"This isn't something that should critically happen next year or
 the year after next year, but we should be aware that this is
the destination and, therefore, work on it," she said.

Asked whether she sees a future for herself in Bulgarian
politics, Georgieva said that her philosophy is to do the job
that he has now. "We'll wait and see what will happen further
on," the EC Vice President added. "But waving the Bulgarian
tricolour in the centre of Brussels is a wonderful feeling!
Being at the heart of Europe, raising our flag high is an
extraordinary experience, especially for people of my generation
 who have lived on the other side of the iron curtain and have
seen Brussels in a picture postcard. That experience convinced
me that Bulgaria is there to stay. Yes, we do have problems, but
 we'll solve them together."

"During the present term in office, the most important thing
that I can do for Bulgaria - and I'm doing it, is to help people
 in the country realize the opportunities provided by the EU: in
 terms of the budget, by the Juncker Plan, so that we could
benefit from these opportunities," Georgieva said. "I'm very
glad that all [operational] programmes for Bulgaria for the new
[programming] period have already been approved. This is 32
billion leva. We are working well, so that the absorption rate
could be high and the money could reach those who need it most.
Besides this, in terms of absorption we're doing better than
Romania, with which we acceded [to the EU] together."