site.btaPresident Plevneliev, Employers, Trade Unions Discuss Current Economic, Social Issues

Sofia, August 1 (BTA) - Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev Friday talked with the nationally representative organizations of  workers and employees and of employers in relation to the future caretaker government's tasks and priorities, the presidential secretariat said. Current economic and social issues were also discussed.

The participants agreed on the need of reforms that are important for society in the conditions of serious political confrontation and instability. They outlined as particularly important the reforms in the healthcare system and the need of "restarting" the pension reform. Also pressing are measures for speeding up EU funds' absorption, as well as for resuming the payments under suspended operational programmes, which will be among the caretaker government's key priorities, the press release reads.

The organizations of workers and employees and of employers said they expect the caretaker government to work transparently, openly and motivatedly on the issues that are pressing for society.

It transpired during the meeting that there is consensus on the need to update the 2014 budget of the National Health Insurance Fund. Regarding the Government's draft national budget update, the trade unions and employers said they are ready to reconsider their positions once they are presented with specific data on the key parametres of the update, such as the proposed increase of the government debt's ceiling and the budget's expenditure part, the press release reads.