Joining the euro area in 2025 remains Bulgaria's ambition, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariya Gabriel said at a briefing at the Council of Ministers in Sofia Friday. Eurogroup President Paschal Donohoe, Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov and Finance Minister Assen Vassilev were also at the briefing.
Gabriel said: "We are convinced of the benefits of Bulgaria's [expected] accession to the eurozone for the stability of the banking system, for the citizens and businesses."
She described accession to the eurozone and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development as overriding priorities for Bulgaria. She thanked Donohoe for his support. Gabriel said: "I believe that eurozone enlargement will send a positive signal to the Eastern European countries at a time of geopolitical challenges. Of course, it is up to all of us to resist populist skepticism."
During the talks with the Eurogroup president earlier in the day, the sides noted the importance of the public awareness campaign which will be held throughout the whole year to explain in an easy-to-grasp way the benefits of euro area membership for the economy and for raising the standard of living, Gabriel said. The campaign is aimed to counter disinformation, she said. "I am glad that today we have shown once again the high degree of our mobilization as a team, the mobilization of our institutions, the mobilization of resources," she said, adding that Sofia relies on Donohoe's rich experience.
/MT/
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