site.btaPM Borissov, EU Commissioner Oettinger Meet, EU Budget for 2021-2027 Dominates Agenda

104 POLITICS - MUNICH CONFERENCE - BORISSOV - OETTINGER

PM Borissov, EU Commissioner Oettinger Meet,
EU Budget for 2021-2027 Dominates
Agenda


Munich, February 16 (BTA) - Meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and EU Budget and Human Resources Commissioner Gunther Oettinger discussed the negotiations on the EU's Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027, the government information service said.

Borissov said: "We want to be ambitious, so we need an ambitious budget. This is crucial to our future development and to a demonstration by the EU that it can take concerted action in hard times and emerge from the crises even stronger."

Bulgaria supports the European Commission's arguments and position for concluding the MFF negotiations by October 2019, said Borissov, adding that a balance should be struck between growth policies and the new priorities.

"Being an external border of the EU, Bulgaria is well aware of the need for sufficient funding for the new challenges, especially in security, migration and defence. But it is just as important for the EU budget to invest in growth, employment, competitiveness and convergence," Borissov said.

He stressed that Cohesion Policy and the Common Agricultural Policy are priorities for Bulgaria and have proved their added value for the EU as a whole. He emphasized the importance of strengthening the focus on the needs of the least developed regions as this is the only way to boost the EU's economic and social development.

Borissov and Oettinger concurred that a balanced MFF reflecting the Member States' needs is attainable. LN/DD
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