site.btaBulgarian Government Adopts National Recovery Plan

113 POLITICS-RECOVER PLAN-ADOPTION

Government Adopts National Recovery and Resilience Plan


Sofia, October 14 (BTA) - The Council of Ministers adopted Bulgaria's National Recovery and Resilience Plan on Thursday. Speaking to journalists after the regular cabinet meeting, caretaker Prime Minister Stefan Yanev said that the document will resolve a number of social and political issues and will give an additional impetus to the economy, industry and the business.

Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Pekanov in charge of EU funds said that the plan will be sent to the European Commission on Friday. "We defended for Bulgaria these 12.9 billion leva despite the heavy legacy and the unprecedented political situation. The plan is a programme for longterm investments and reforms, which will make Bulgaria economy stronger and more competitive," Pekanov said.

The Deputy Prime Minister added that the plan will trigger 8.1 billion leva in additional investments and over the next six years the overall effect on the economy will be to the amount of 21 billion leva.

Pekanov underscored that the cabinet had been criticized for delaying the plan but it made sure that the funds would be used in the best possible way. He added that compared with the July version, reforms in relation to the rule of law, were stepped up. During the preparations the prosecution service and the Supreme Judicial Council did not submit any proposals about the Plan, which is why the Justice Ministry proposed reforms to address the criticism of Brussels.

He said that the plan envisages a new reform in the area of energy, which is the establishment of a state-owned company, Conversion of Coal Regions, in order to help people and regions at risk