Balanced Budget, Fighting Contraband Key for Bulgaria Govt's Next 100 Days

The achieving of a balanced budget (earlier presented as "pizza"-shaped) is the number one priority of GERB government, Finance Minister Djankov stated. Photo by BGNES

The balanced budget and the fighting of contraband will be the top priorities of the Bulgarian government for its second 100-day period.

This was proclaimed Tuesday by Bulgaria’s Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov, as the government led by GERB party leader Boyko Borisov turned 100 days after swearing into office on July 27, 2009.

Djankov, who is also one of the two Deputy Prime Ministers, outlined a total of 10 key priorities for the government of the center-right GERB (“Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria”).

“Bulgaria has the most stable fiscal policy in all of the EU. We have the political will to repeat those successes in the future. The second top measure is boosting the fighting of illegal business and contraband. This could be done through reorganization of the Customs Agency and the National Revenue Agency. A huge part of the state revenue comes from excise duties. Only in the last month we carried out 150 successful raids against smugglers,” Djankov declared.

In addition to the balanced budget and cracking down on smuggling, the top priorities include reforming the state administration, increasing transparency in public procurement procedures, amending taxation legislation, straightening the management of state property.

The last measure could be implemented through the creation of a State Assets Agency to govern real estate properties belonging to the state.

Djankov also said the government planned to merge the Privatization Agency and the Agency for Post-Privatization Control – a recommendation made Monday by Blue Coalition leader Ivan Kostov.

In order to streamline the public tenders, amendments of the Public Procurement Act are also planned.

The government is going to set up a “Golden Register” as part of its tax policies. It is going to contain the names of all conscientious firms and companies paying their value-added tax on time. The benefit of being listed in the Golden Register will be that VAT will be refunded within one week to the firms included in it.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!