The Presidential institution has become a platform for concrete ideas, priorities and solutions for the development of Bulgaria in 2012 and we have shown that the parties can work together and engage in a common direction, President Rosen Plevneliev said in his first address to the National Assembly. The Head of State summarized to MPs the results of talks with the parliamentary political forces during “the month of political consultations” that the he had initiated. The Bulgaria 2020 National Development Programme, measures to support the economy and employment, energy efficiency and diversification, and specific reforms this year were the main themes identified as priorities within the framework of the political consultations. "We will seek a non-partisan approach, sustainability of objectives and guarantees that whoever is in power will work to implement them," the President emphasised to Parliament.
According to the Head of state, an action plan should be formulated for the Bulgaria 2020 strategy rather than it being another abstract document. “What is most important is not only to define goals but also to answer how and when will they be achieved and who is responsible for doing so. Producing “Bulgaria 2020” within a broad social consensus will be the Government’s trump card in negotiating in 2013 to get the most favourable conditions for our country within the European Union’s 2014-2020 fiscal framework,” President Plevneliev said.
To promote economic growth, dynamic policies for attracting investment are needed and further thought should be given to incentives for investors. The President called for increasing the powers of the InvestBulgaria Agency, the introduction of “one stop” services and “emergency” amendments to the Investment Promotion Act.
It is essential to have urgent measures to combat youth unemployment, through quality education and rapid transition from education to employment. At secondary schools and universities, accessible programmes should be established that encourage young people to develop their own businesses. The President called for facilitated access to finance for start-up entrepreneurs.
All political forces have identified investments in energy efficiency as a top priority. In 2012, mechanisms must be created to properly define the activities and responsibilities within the national programme for energy efficiency. There should be significant resources, of at least a billion leva, to implement this priority within the 2014-2020 fiscal framework, President Plevneliev said. He also called for development of new models for funding innovation and scientific projects. “Bulgarian science should be oriented towards building links with the market to attract business and encourage private companies to work with researchers and scientists. With proper programming of European and national resources in the 2014-2020 period, we can provide the funds necessary to build high-tech centres, industrial parks as part of regional and national clusters,” the President said.
An integrated approach in the security system is necessary. In 2012, there should be separate laws to regulate the National Security Service, Military Intelligence Service at the Ministry of Defence and National Intelligence Service, along with the improvement of mechanisms for control and co-ordination among them.
All political forces saw judicial reform as a priority. In 2012, the law on confiscation of illegally acquired property and the new Penal Code should be debated and approved. On these issues, it is essential to have a shared will by political parties and an overall message to the citizens and the European partners of our country, the President said. According to Rosen Plevneliev, there should be a thorough debate on the recommendations addressed to Bulgaria by international organizations in connection with the election process in the country.
In the field of administrative reform, the President believes that amendments to the law on administration submitted to the National Assembly are a step in the right direction. The ultimate goal is to build a non-partisan, motivated, responsible and professional public administration. It is mandatory that the future must see legislative changes to separate political and administrative responsibility, and to build more mechanisms for transparency in the system. Administrative reform cannot be completed successfully without e-government. It should be no less a priority than building highways and must be financially secured, with clearly defined responsibilities and deadlines for each subsequent year, the Head of State underlined.