site.btaPM Zhelyazkov: Eurozone Remains Political Priority, Convergence Report to Be Requested after February 18

The Eurozone remains a political priority, said Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov on the air of Bulgarian National Television (BNT) on Friday evenong. He indicated that the convergence report on this country's readiness to join the eurozone will be requested after February 18, when the draft state budget is submitted.

Zhelyazkov argued that both the European Central Bank, and the European Commission want to see the necessary data on the stability of both price growth and the deficit.

Adressing speculation on the topic of the deficit, Zhelyazkov said that currently Bulgaria has a deficit of around 3%. He specified that this is the deficit on a cash basis, and Eurostat data is still pending on debt on an accrual basis. "We hope that they will be favorable," commented the Prime Minister.

" The budget that we will propose, and in accordance with the Public Finance Act, must have a deficit ceiling of up to 3%. We will try to present such a budget," Zhelyazkov also said, adding this will give grounds to request an extraordinary convergence report in the second half of February.

"The  assessment of our partners for our readiness in terms of parameters remains to be seen," the Prime Minister added.

Earlier on Friday, at the opening of the plenary session, the ruling and opposition parties made mutual accusations about the state of the country's public finances and entry into the eurozone.