Atanas Pekanov

Atanas Pekanov, Bulgaria's former vice-prime minister for European funds under the "Donev" administration, has warned that the country is likely to forfeit at least 500 million leva (250 million euros) from the Recovery and Sustainability Plan due to delays in implementing agreed reforms.

Atanas Pekanov, former Deputy Prime Minister for European Funds Management, has expressed skepticism about Bulgaria's chances of joining the Eurozone on January 1, 2025. Speaking to NOVA NEWS, Pekanov cited concerns about meeting inflation criteria, attributing part of the problem to the government's policy of income raises.

The law on the adoption of the euro will be submitted to the National Assembly within a month, announced Deputy Minister of Finance Metodi Metodiev during a discussion on the topic of the forum "The role of organized civil society in the process of Bulgaria's accession to the Eurozone". According to him, achieving the inflation criterion remains the main challenge facing our country.

"There are formal entry criteria for each country to enter the Eurozone, it is only a matter of time before Bulgaria fulfills them.

There are low deficits and once the energy crisis is over, there will be low deficits again.

The benchmark for inflation remains, but it will moderate anyway.

"Today's forum aims to exchange experience and good practices between Bulgaria and Spain regarding the recovery and resilience mechanism.

"Bulgaria can request an extraordinary report on its readiness to enter the Eurozone in March or April, but for this it must have met the inflation criteria and passed three laws." Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Pekanov announced this to Nova TV.

The thermal power plants will operate without restrictions until 2038, and Bulgaria is abandoning its commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 40% by the end of 2025.

The general draft decision of the energy parliamentary committee passed in the hall with 187 votes "in favor", 2 "against" (WCC) and 9 "abstentions" (5 from DB and 4 from WCC).

"The adoption of the euro will not increase inflation further". This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Pekanov on the air of BNT.

He noted that the euro is stronger than 10 years ago when we could have seen turmoil. "We don't have that at the moment. We adopted measures to calm the markets. Institutionally, the euro is stronger", Pekanov stressed.

"We have adopted regulatory changes regarding the Coordination Council for Bulgaria's preparation for membership in the Eurozone.

"Perhaps the negotiations with Gazprom are immoral and unpleasant, most likely Russia is not a reliable long-term partner, but we will continue our trade relations".

This was stated to BNT by the Deputy Prime Minister for the management of European funds, Atanas Pekanov.