„What we, the Group of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, are asking for from the EU's Multiannual Financial Framework is in the interest of Bulgaria. The European Commission's proposal met with major disapproval. This budget is unacceptable to us. There are significantly fewer funds for agriculture and cohesion policy. Changes are yet to be discussed, because it will come into force in 2028.“ This was stated by the head of the Delegation of the Bulgarian Socialists in the European Parliament and member of the BSP EB, Kristian Vigenin, to BNT. He noted that the funds for defense and security are increasing between three and five times, which, according to him, is a direct result of the dominance of the right in the EC: “Europe is becoming more right-wing, and the new budget shows it clearly - less money for people, more for armaments and border protection.“ According to Vigenin, the planned new scheme of spending funds through national and regional plans carries the risk of weaker control by the EP and parceling out European policy.
“We cannot be satisfied, since there are significantly fewer funds for agriculture and for cohesion policy - the policy of cohesion, which should help reduce differences and inequalities both between foreign member states and between regions within them. We, the socialists, are not particularly satisfied that so many funds are being allocated for armaments. We have a different understanding of defense and security. We need to guarantee internal peace to a greater extent, overcome inequalities, internal contradictions that arise. We want to see more funds for healthcare, I will personally fight for this - to have healthy people, healthcare systems that react quickly to unforeseen events,“ commented the MEP. Vigenin stressed that the socialists managed to fight for a separate European Social Fund, because otherwise social policy would have sunk into the general framework for competitiveness.
On the topic of the funds absorbed by Bulgaria under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, Christian Vigenin said that due to political instability, the country has lagged behind in this process: “When there is an acting government, we obviously find a way for a huge part of the funds under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, which we thought were irretrievably lost, to enter the Bulgarian economy. But they are given on condition and against reforms. Now we have the chance to catch up.“ Vigenin called for unity between the ruling and opposition parties regarding changes in the judicial system. “If we can unite and act as one in protecting the national interest in relation to the Republic of North Macedonia, we should also be able to do so on such an important issue as this - that Bulgaria has an effective, transparent, impartial and independent judicial system that citizens and businesses can trust.“
Regarding the protests against the arrest of Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev, Kristian Vigenin commented that the PP-DB also made many mistakes during its rule. “You can't always be against and against now. You can't always expect someone to lend you a hand. The BSP is not at the protests, unlike in 2020, because corrupt practices cannot be covered up with political protests. There should be no political pressure on the prosecution and the court. But the actions of the prosecutor's office and the court also left a bitter aftertaste, which gave rise to these protests. There is no black and white here”, the MEP concluded.
For contact with the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the EP: https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/