Prime Minister Zhelyazkov: We will demand extraordinary convergence reports on Bulgaria's membership in the eurozone

Balanced growth without an increase in the tax and social security burden, income growth ahead of inflation growth and capital expenditures tailored to the needs of citizens and municipalities - this is set out in this year's state budget, which the Council of Ministers is due to consider and adopt today. At the beginning of the government meeting, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov outlined the key aspects of the financial framework for 2025 and announced that today the three budgets - of the state, the NHIF and the state social security - will be submitted to the National Assembly. We have found challenges that we do not address and do not personalize, because we are guided by the maxim that whoever looks back is very likely to stumble forward, the Prime Minister also pointed out.

The management program is also to be discussed at today's government meeting. Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov thanked the political partners for their understanding and reconciliation of political and ideological differences, as well as for the maturity that allows the coalition to work clearly, predictably and with ambition for the long term.

Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev emphasized that the management program is not just a mechanical sum of the priorities of different parties, but a consistent document based on solid political logic. The focus in the management program is primarily financial stability and economic competitiveness, and it is important for Bulgaria to stop accumulating debts and strive for a balanced budget. Bulgaria's integration into the European economic and financial architecture is another important priority that Deputy Prime Minister Donchev highlighted. Next, Donchev also mentioned improving the quality of life of Bulgarian citizens, education, healthcare, energy security and diversification, and the modernization of the Bulgarian Army with the maximum participation of Bulgarian industry. There will be a monitoring and reporting system for the implementation of the program, with a representative of each ministry monitoring the progress of the program.

At the beginning of the government meeting, the Minister of Finance Temenuzhka Petkova announced that according to Eurostat data released today, Bulgaria also meets the last criterion for membership in the eurozone, namely the price stability criterion. According to Minister Petkova, this is grounds for a decision to be made to request the European Commission and the European Central Bank to prepare extraordinary reports on the convergence of the Republic of Bulgaria