The cabinet of Bulgaria has said that it adopted a governance program prioritizing the country’s accession, to the EU’s visa-free travel zone, by the end of this year, as well as the accession to the eurozone by January 1, 2025.
Besides, the program adopted by the country’s government also consists of other main priorities in Bulgaria for the period from June 2023 to December 2024.
The top five priorities include:
- The country’s accession to the Schengen Zone by the end of this year
- Joining the Eurozone from January 1, 2025
- Controlling inflation
- Implementation of reforms and projects from the National Recovery and Sustainability Plan
- Improving the efficiency and transparency of municipal project management
The statement reads that in Schengen, the main goal is to carry out all the necessary activities to meet the requirements of the European partners for permitting Bulgaria to become a member of this area.
The same notes that the government will further strengthen border controls by creating an effective infrastructure, among others, with which the country could contribute to the general security of the European borders.
In order to join the Eurozone from January 1, 2025, the country plans to work in close cooperation with European institutions to meet all the requirements for successfully completing this process.
The government of Bulgaria also plans to introduce all the needed requirements in order to stabilise the prices of goods and create a favourable economic environment for businesses and citizens.
Furthermore, the cabinet plans to take concrete measures, taking into account legislative initiatives, in order to ensure the effective implementation of the National Recovery as well as the Sustainability Plan and the absorption of the subsequent payments.
Earlier this month, Bulgaria’s new Prime Minister, Nickolay Denkov, stressed that his cabinet would work so the accession of Bulgaria to the visa-free travel zone can be finalised by the end of this year.
He stressed that his cabinet will work towards new systematic changes related to border control management, and towards a low state budget deficit, among others.
Bulgaria’s PM also emphasised that he will start a “campaign against the disinformation around Bulgaria’s adoption of the euro”.
Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen Zone was blocked in December last year by Austria after the latter, citing unlawful migrant concerns, opposed the membership of this Balkan country to Schengen.
Besides, the Federal Chancellery in Vienna said that Austria continues to maintain its veto against the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen Area, in spite of the fact that both countries have met all the needed conditions in order for this process to be finalised.
