site.btaPM Borissov on Pandemic Exit Prospects,Turkey, Green Deal

December 11 (BTA correspondent Nikolay Jeliazkov) - Speaking to reporters at the end of a European Council meeting in Brussels on December 10 and 11, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said that easing the COVID-related restrictions should not be expected soon and spoke of a likely third wave of infections. "Opening Europe is out of the question until the end of March. A third [COVID-19] wave is expected, with severe restrictions. Christmas and the New Year will have to be celebrated in a narrow family circle, that's how it is in all European countries," said here on Friday.

"I'd like to be more optimistic but, [judging] from what my colleagues are telling me, an end to the crisis can be expected in August-October next year if a 70 per cent vaccination rate of the EU population is achieved," the PM added.

Further coordination on COVID-19 was among the issues on the agenda of the European Council. The European leaders also stroke a deal on the EU budget, agreed on a more ambitious target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 55 per cent by 2030, and decided to extend by another six months economic sanctions imposed on Russia for its intervention in Ukraine. Relations with Turkey were also discussed and the Council said the EU is ready to cooperate more with Turkey to tackle migration.

Borissov said that the EU will not make new decisions on Turkey's actions in the Eastern Mediterranean for another three months. "As a EU Member State, we support our friends Greece and Cyprus. We insist on finding diplomatic solutions with Ankara to this issue, which is about business: gas extraction and profits," he pointed out.

Borissov noted that Turkey entirely honours its understanding with the EU on migrants. In his words, "violation of treaties and provocative movements of warships and other vessels is counterproductive".

Green target

The head of government pointed out that the EU is planning to aid Member States like Bulgaria in achieving the increased green targets in coming years. He recalled that, apart from Bulgaria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland and Western Balkan countries also operate coal-fired power plants.

"There is enough time to act together with the European Commission smoothly, quickly, reasonably and with consideration for our energy capabilities," Borissov said. He added that it had been agreed to use gas as a fuel of the green transition. "Nuclear power is taboo in a number of countries, but France, just as Bulgaria, is willing to keep using it because it is entirely emission-free," the Prime Minister pointed out. RY/LG


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