Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov on Thursday commented on Bulgaria's Territorial Just Transition Plans (TJTPs) approved by the European Commission (EC) , the country's possible accession to the Schengen area and the amendments to the Constitution finally adopted on Wednesday.
Denkov told journalists at the Council of Ministers that the TJTPs are in line with what has been negotiated with trade unions here, and with the follow up agreement confirmed by the National Assembly. The EC approved BGN 2.3 billion support under the TJTPs for Stara Zagora, Kyustendil and Pernik.
"This is a substantial amount of money for the development of these regions. If we had delayed [the submission of the TJTPs to the EC] for one more week, these funds would have disappeared, just as some EUR 100 million disappeared at the end of last year because paperwork was not submitted by the caretaker government. This is great news for Bulgaria and for the people who live in these regions because this money will be invested there," the Prime Minister said.
Denkov said that the last three months had been used to negotiate conditions that are as beneficial as possible for the people, and that the process for investments to flow in the regions had been "unblocked', thus people will feel more at ease with changes. According to him, interest in investment in the regions to be supported by the TJTPs is huge.
On the subject of Bulgaria's potential accession to the Schengen area, the prime minister said that negotiations were ongoing, including at the present moment. Options are being sought that are mutually acceptable, both for Austria and for Bulgaria and Romania, he noted.
Denkov once again defended the constitutional amendments supported by the parliamentary majority that is also backing the government.
"This reform is necessary. The court must be independent, the prosecution must be accountable. There must be mechanisms to control the Prosecutor General. Everything has been explained clearly enough," he said. Referring to the changes concerning the status of the caretaker government, Denkov said that "Bulgaria should not allow one-man rule that for long periods of time has no parliamentary control."
/LG/
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