site.btaBulgaria Supports Main Principles of Reform Package, Simplification of Customs Procedures

Bulgaria supports the main principles of the reform package and the proposals to simplify customs procedures, which will facilitate the work of traders and customs authorities as well as consumers, said caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Lyudmila Petkova, who participated in the regular meeting of the EU Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN), held on Tuesday in Brussels, the Ministry of Finance said on its website.

At the meeting, the Hungarian Presidency briefed ministers on the progress of work within the Council on the legislative package for the reform of the Customs Union.

Minister Petkova said that challenges such as e-commerce, climate change and illicit trade need a global response that requires more modern and efficient customs procedures. She pointed out that the creation of a customs authority and the EU Customs Data Hub is a natural extension of the development of customs management at European level. In this way, EU customs administrations will effectively work as one.

Finance ministers also discussed the review of the Energy Taxation Directive. Bulgaria welcomed the convergence of member states' positions, despite the difficulties posed by the need to balance different starting positions in terms of socio-economic factors and the geographical situation of member states, and the need to take action on climate and promote the use of sustainable fuels, the release said.

Minister Petkova thanked the Belgian and Hungarian presidencies for reflecting Bulgaria's comments on energy products and electricity used by households. She stressed that the envisaged transition period, based on the ratio of GDP per capita to the European average, is crucial for Bulgaria.

The introduction of a minimum positive rate, which will increase over the years, will lead to a dramatic increase in final prices for consumers. In this regard, Minister Petkova raised the issue of the social tolerability of such a measure. 

During the meeting, the President of the European Court of Auditors presented the annual report on the implementation of the EU budget for the financial year 2023. 

The Council reviewed the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility and adopted decisions approving the amended recovery and resilience plans of Sweden, Belgium, Slovenia, and Denmark.

The European finance ministers also discussed the economic and financial effects of Russia's aggression against Ukraine.