At the moment the inflation level looks good, we have to keep it to enter in the criterion for the euro area. This was told to BNR by the economist Petar Ganev, senior researcher at the Institute of Market Economy.
Data for April show that inflation in Bulgaria fell and is now lower than the European average. The trend is good. However, the criterion for the Eurozone is average annual inflation, i.e. we look back 12 months. If the inflation rule is like a river bed, we should get into it and stay in it for 12 months. With inflation almost 2.5% we are almost there and now we have to stay for some time. It doesn't have to be all 12 months, but when you take an average year, the average level should still be in the trough,'' he explained.
The economist pointed out that joining the Eurozone is a huge issue for Bulgaria:
"We hardly see the debate about the single European market being led by Bulgarian politicians. Rather, we participate with the desire to enter Schengen and the Eurozone".
According to Ganev, lower inflation means that in the future pensions will also be increased by less, because it will "calm down the Swiss rule".
In the show "Something more" Petar Ganev commented that the extraordinary session of the parliament on the subject of pensions was unnecessary:
"It is recorded in the Budget, the decision of the Supervisory Board of the NOI was made, with some twists and turns about the exact percentage, but during an election campaign it was perhaps not the most appropriate to gather the parliament for a protocol decision" ;.