site.bta EU Commissioner Georgieva on National Budget, Juncker Investment Plan

106 ECONOMY-COMMISSIONER GEORGIEVA-BUDGET-REMARKS

EU Commissioner Georgieva
on National Budget,
Juncker Investment Plan


Sofia, November 29 (BTA) - Speaking to journalists on Saturday,
European Commission Vice President and Budget Commissioner
Kristalina Georgieva said that if leaks in the budget of the
National Health Insurance Fund are plugged, there will be more
money for welfare payments.

Georgieva commented on the national budget and the need for more
social expenditures.

Georgieva said that the first of the new operational programmes
in the 2014-2020 period for Human Resource Development was
approved on Friday. She said it was a social programme and that
will make available 2 billion leva.

She said that in a year the budget deficit has gone from 1.2 per
cent to 3.7 per cent and cautioned the Finance Minister to be
very careful with expenditures. In her words, long-delayed
reforms should be carried out for a better and more social
budget.

Georgieva commented on a plan by European Commission President
Jean-Claude Juncker for a 315 billion euro European Fund for
Strategic Investments. The Commissioner said that the plan aims
"to awake" money sleeping in the banks. Georgieva said that
Bulgaria won't contribute any money to the fund but is expected
to submit projects. Georgieva said she was convinced that the
plan will be put to practice and will generate growth and new
jobs.

Georgieva inspected a stretch of the Sofia underground near
Sofia Airport that is currently under construction.