site.btaGERB – UDF, Democratic Bulgaria Hold Expert Meetings

Two more expert meetings were held on Tuesday as part of the negotiations between GERB-UDF and Democratic Bulgaria for the formation of a government after the inaugural meeting on Monday. Tuesday’s agenda focused on the 2025 budget and the state of public finances, as well as measures to counter corruption and the need for judicial reforms in the programmes of both parties, GERB-UDF said.

The conclusion of the meeting was that there is a need for stability of public finances, budget consolidation in order to achieve the main strategic goal for the country - joining the euro area. In the longer term, efforts should be made towards a balanced budget at the end of a four-year term of government.

Participating were Temenuzhka Petkova, Krasimir Valchev, Tomislav Donchev, Denitsa Sacheva and Kostadin Angelov from GERB-UDF, and Martin Dimitrov, Ivaylo Mirchev, Georgi Ganev, Radan Kanev and Vladislav Panev from Democratic Bulgaria.

The parameters of the draft budget for 2025 were discussed, as well as the potential risks it poses to financial stability. In this regard, the parties will hold an urgent meeting with the Finance Minister and her team to provide an update and discuss possible measures.

Nadezhda Yordanova, Atanas Slavov, Bozhidar Bozhanov, Lyudmila Ilieva, Kristina Petkova, Radan Kanev from Democratic Bulgaria and Rosen Zhelyazkov, Raya Nazaryan, Daniel Mitov and Georgi Georgiev from GERB-SDF participated in the meeting on justice and anti-corruption.

The discussed anti-corruption measures are accepted by both sides and there is "a high degree of agreement" to make them part of a coalition agreement with specific deadlines, legislative proposals and changes in the policies of the executive for a full term of government, GERB-UDF said.

Negotiations will continue with discussions of defence and foreign policy, transport and regional development, energy and environment.