The former deputy prime minister for management of European funds in the office &bdquo ;Donev“ Atanas Pekanov commented on the subject of the Recovery and Sustainability Plan. In the studio of “Hello, Bulgaria” he stated that we will most likely lose at least BGN 500 million from the PVA because Bulgaria is delaying the reforms it signed up to before the European Commission.
“ Bulgaria's success comes when we do not so easy things and difficult reforms. The Recovery and Resilience Plan is one such program of various changes. It was written by many offices, a lot of work was done, and I am very worried because the topic remained in the background at the time of the “assembly”, Pekanov pointed out.
The former vice-prime minister announced that he supports the claim of “We continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria”. “These three laws must happen – on the selection of the composition of the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Law on Personal Bankruptcy and the Law on the Protection of Consumers Who Report Corruption”.
During the administration of Atanas Pekanov, the last payment under the Recovery and Sustainability Plan was made. “In 2020, all member countries agreed that there will be European funds, but against conditions and reforms. They are listed for each country. During the cabinet “Petkov“ The plan was accepted as it is. We are now moving on the steps we need to take. In 2022, there are no other payments, we need to pass these three laws, plus a few more measures”.
„If we do not accept them, the European Commission will punish us and take part of the money from the second payment. The whole remaining plan is BGN 10 billion, the second payment is BGN 1.5 billion, of which I guess we will lose at least BGN 500 million. Because there are still things we haven't finished. Colleagues from PP-DB are right that these three laws must happen, Pekanov added.
Atanas Pekanov explained that the entire plan is BGN 12 billion. “We have taken BGN 2.7 billion or 25% of this during the official cabinet. From then on, no more money received, two years left. We are on the second payment of eight”.
According to him, Italy, Spain, Greece and Croatia have already taken more than 60% of the sum due to them.
„When there was a majority in the parliament and Asen Vassilev was finance minister, he had to deal with the PVA, instead of the Constitution. The problem should have been solved then, now in these floating majorities to change laws, I'm not sure how it will work out”.
To specify in detail, Pekanov specified that these are funds, for example, for the Sofia metro, the renovation of the buildings, the purchase of helicopters, the repair works at the schools. “These are things that will not happen, we will not be able to pay for them”.