site.btaContinue the Change Opens Talks on Economy, Energy with Potential Coalition Partners

Sofia, November 23 (BTA) - The winner in the November 14 general elections, Continue the Change, opened talks on economy and energy with its potential partners in the future Parliament: There Is Such a People (TISP), the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and Democratic Bulgaria (DB). The talks, scheduled to be held until November 27 on a wide rabge of topics, are expected to lead to a coalition agreement that will allow the formation of a government.

Participating in the talks in each sector will be three experts from each of the potential coalition partners of Continue the Change.

Assen Vassilev of Continue the Change said at the start of the discussion on energy that they will first look at issues where the four parties agree and leave the disagreements for later.

Vassilev said that in the energy sector the main goal is to ensure the biggest possible energy independence for Bulgaria and use of own energy sources. Second, the country must ensure sustainability of its energy sector meaning that it is able to meet peak demand in winter. Third, this must come at the lowest possible price.

The Socialists' proposals

BSP proposed sets of short-term and long-term measures to soften the electricity price shock and ensure a sustainable development of the sector for a four-year period.

Among the short term measures are free electricity (up to 200 KWh) for poor households, more flexible bill payment schemes, lowering the VAT rate for end-consumers to 9 per cent from 20 per cent and higher taxes for excessive profit in electricity sector.

Among the long-term measures are expansion of the Bulgarian nuclear energy sector, including construction of new capacity to replace the Kozloduy N-plant when it reaches the end of its life; preserving the Maritsa East coal energy complex and negotiating with the EU to make sure the coal plants continue to be used for as long as possible; changing the plans for forcing households to go to the liberalized market of electricity and allowing schools, kindergartens, hospitals and social care homes to return to the regulated market; supporting producers of electricity from renewables and prioritizing energy storage; higher secutiry of gas supplies and encouraging the use of natural gas in industry and households.

BSP believes that the next government seek an overhaul of the Green Deal in talks with the European Commission.

New strategies dominate ideas of There Is Such a People

TISP argued that Bulgaria needs to prepare and implement several national strategies, including a new energy strategy; a strategy for decarbonization of the national economy; for management of radioacive waste and spent nuclear fuel; for own industry for oil and gas prospecting and production; and for development of the coal regions. The Energy Ministry should presebt annual public reports on the implementation of the national energy strategy and the Ministry leadership should hold quarterly news briefings to report the condition of the energy sector. They also call for updating the line for compensating hospitals and social establishments for the high price of electricity and heat. Trade on the platform for long-term contracts should be encouraged but with new rules. TISP also believes that the EU infringement procedures should be reviewed - there are currently some eight infringement procedures against Bulgaria, TISP said.

Huge agreement on economic vision and policies

During the discussion on the economy, Kiril Petkov said that there is agreement on much of the visions, policies and measures but the problems start when these have to be implemented and "special interests", as Petkov put it, try to influence the processes. Elaborating on that, he said that these are the interests of people who are not in Parliament and who have profited from making sure these policies and measures are not implemented in the recent years. "It is time we removed the political investors," Petkov said.

Among the measures for which there is agreement, he mentioned reducing red tape; dealing with the aftermath of the health crisis by stepping up vaccination "in a democratic way", using the potential of industrial zones to generate value added and providing incentives to pair science and business.

Petkov said that it is important to use the potential of Bulgarians abroad and to have an adequate government policy and financial resources to support talented Bulgarians and bring back those who study abroad. MORE/