site.btaPresident Plevneliev: 2015 Should Be Year of Reforms, Team Work in Bulgarian Politics

106 POLITICS - PRESIDENT - AMBASSADORS - RECEPTION

President Plevneliev: 2015 Should
Be Year of Reforms, Team
Work in Bulgarian Politics


Sofia, January 24 (BTA) - President Rosen Plevneliev Friday said
that 2015 should be the year of team work in Bulgarian politics
and reforms in the country. He was speaking at the traditional
reception for the heads of diplomatic missions held by the
President.

Plevneliev said that in the last two months the Bulgarian
political elite has demonstrated a new approach in the political
life of the country: constructive dialogue and search for
agreement. He said he expects this nationally responsible
approach to be further developed during this year in the name of
the public interest in stability and progress. Politicians
should prove that the Bulgarian democracy is mature enough for
working coalitions based on principles and that they have the
political will to undertake comprehensive reforms.

Plevneliev noted that this year there is a chance for reforms of
importance to Bulgarian society to be moved forward in the
judicial system, the healthcare system, the energy sector,
education, administration, the water sector, the pension system,
and the security sector.

Going forward with the reform in the judicial system is a
strategic priority, he went on to say, welcoming the big
parliamentary majority and the firm political will for change
which the MPs demonstrated by adopting an update of the strategy
for reforming the judicial system on Wednesday.

"Although the Bulgarian banking system is stable and has high
liquidity, we will join the EU's Single Supervisory Mechanism as
a first step towards Bulgaria's entry in the European Banking
Union," the head of State said. The country's entry in Schengen
is also a strategic priority, he added.

Plevneliev said that he will continue to seek agreement and
continuity on national priorities. He noted that citizens' trust
in Parliament and the Government is starting to recover after
the record-low levels registered in mid-2014, which is a sign
that politicians are on the right path.

In his words, it should be the EU's total priority to build a
well functioning and completely integrated internal market for
electricity and natural gas through the construction of
interconnectors between the countries and the liberalization and
diversification of markets and suppliers. "Bulgaria strongly
supports the creation of a European energy union and regional
energy alliances through regional gas and electricity exchanges
and joint companies between the countries in the region for
supply of and trade in gas, oil and electricity. We need to
connect the networks in the regions: motorways, railway lines,
gas and electricity networks, telecommunications. Connectivity
is our priority. It is integration and rule of law that are our
weapon, and not isolation and rule of power," Plevneliev said.

The head of State also said that the recent terrorist attack
against Charlie Hebdo in Paris showed that terrorism and hatred
know no frontiers, therefore the fight against terrorism is a
common cause.

LI/DS