Atanas Pekanov: Energy remains a serious problem to be solved in the Recovery Plan
The recovery plan has been finalized, but the two major issues remain - the rule of law and energy. This was said by the Deputy Prime Minister for Management of European Funds Atanas Pekanov to BNT. "A version of our version of the Recovery Plan is about to be broadcast, for which I have heard mostly positive comments. From our point of view, the document is finalized in its entirety, but the two big issues that are not over remain. "These negotiations are still pending, on which we have drawn our red lines, but the European institutions must draw their red lines - in the area of the rule of law and on the topic of energy," he explained. Pekanov added that he welcomed this mechanism for recovery and sustainability, that money should come only when real reforms are made.
"What needs to happen is to promise that the steps will be taken in the coming years. When the Plan is submitted, they will have to be made, because the money will depend. According to him, it is not right for an official cabinet to solve such big issues with long-term developments in the judicial reform. On the other hand, it will happen now. We will have to ask in the area of the rule of law what should happen, and I would be very happy if the groups represented in parliament had united around some vision of what they are ready to accept in the next functioning parliament because we will set these reforms, we will not accept them, because they must be adopted by parliament and we will have to seek consensus that the next parliament will adopt them, "he said.
Pekanov added that the European institutions expect us to strengthen the sphere of accountability of the Prosecutor General and to provide effective measures to fight corruption. He said that they had managed to slightly upgrade the current provisions of the Plan in the area of accountability of the Prosecutor General and said that he expected another component to be upgraded in this reform.
"The other big issue is in the field of energy. Here it is much more difficult how to cross our red lines. I share this priority for the green transition, for the green economy, that we need to invest in this and reduce pollution. Our economy is one of the most energy intensive in Europe. We need to take steps in this. However, nothing has been done on this topic for many years, the topic has been neglected, "Pekanov added.
He said that the funds are guaranteed for us, but the biggest risk is the delay of the projects that have to start already.