NEWS

Esteemed Mrs. Speaker of the National Assembly,

Esteemed Ladies and Gentlemen, Assembly Deputies,

 

By an established tradition, I address the National Assembly after the Month of political consultations. I would like to thank the political parties that took part in the consultations for the political responsibility and institutional culture that they showed. Together we discussed the key reforms to be conducted and the important tasks to be solved. 

 

We agreed that we should ensure political stability and build on the national priorities. The political diversity of the 43rd National Assembly provides a good basis for ensuring that, despite the differences, we should support reasonable and nationally-responsible actions. The political consultations we held in the past month proved that there is potential for reaching a political consensus. Hopefully, throughout the year we will give the Bulgarian people enough examples of adherence to political principles and responsibility. I am convinced that the political system as a whole will benefit from that. We will strengthen public trust in the institutions of parliamentary democracy. 

 

I believe we have left behind a period of serious and unprincipled confrontation and have learned our lessons from that. The 43rd National Assembly started work by displaying an approach of respect for parliamentarism and a principled clash of ideas and decisions – I sincerely hope that we will preserve this spirit and wish you a successful mandate.

 

Bulgaria has its action plan – the National Program for Development Bulgaria 2020. We reached a full consensus on the set priorities. We also have the instrument that will ensure the necessary resources to achieve the set targets – the Partnership Agreement with the European Commission up to 2020. The most important thing is in store for us – good performance. The Bulgarian people do not expect from the politicians to perform miracles, but expect dedication and work in the right direction. This is the only way results will be achieved. The 43rd National Assembly and the government may reverse the spiral of public trust. This is possible only if a principled approach is adopted and progress on the national priorities is made.

 

The consultations clearly identified the sectors that should be reformed. Both politicians and the people are aware of that. Reforms will be conducted. There is resource to reach a consensus on reforms. Reforms are based on political dialogue, and are carried out by showing political courage and ensuring a broad political consensus on taking nationally-responsible actions.

 

The economy lies at the basis of the solution of each problem we face. Low investments and growth have been the major problem for a seventh year in a row. In order for investors to come, instead of oligarchs, we need legal security and functional regulators. The state should be able to guarantee justice and equal treatment of everyone before the law. 

 

The Bulgarian public has identified the system of law administration as a key priority. The political parties have assumed a lot of commitments to conduct reforms in this sector, and the 43rd National Assembly has manifested a high level of political responsibility by approving the Strategy on continuing the reform in the judiciary. Although all this raises positive expectations, we should not be misled – the results will not come automatically. It is not enough only to have a strategy, or amend the laws we have planned to. The judiciary’s independence and efficiency should be defended every day. The people are hungry for justice. When they do not get it, they fall into the trap of disillusionment and populism. Not a single person has been punished, nor a single lev has been restored so far for blatant crimes such as the communist-era revival process, the bankruptcies of banks in 1997, the SAPARD affair, the bankruptcy of KTB. Starting from notebooks which have disappeared and ending up with the random allocation of cases – the system has created a lot of scandals. It is time for change. We should show that the judiciary can work to win over public trust and administer justice. The reform can no longer be postponed. The people will not forgive us if the outrageous acts are merely covered up, as has been the case so far. We should follow the example set by the European countries, where the people trust the institutions and the rules apply to all.

 

The topic of the need to make amendments to the Constitution, which will make it possible to conduct a more comprehensive and high-quality reform of the law administration system, was repeatedly raised at the political consultations. Undoubtedly, the Constitution, as any other law, can be amended. However, we should make a thorough and in-depth analysis, hold a debate and take advantage of the nation’s scientific potential, and naturally, the draft amendments to the constitutional texts should be based on the assessment of the former’s sustainability and impact.  

 

However, I am sure that until then we neither have the time nor the right to wait. We have very good ideas that may be implemented without Constitutional amendments. The Constitution is not a hindrance to the magistrates to administer law according to their conscience and by observing the laws. Even the most high-quality constitutional norm cannot guarantee in itself the independence of the judiciary. The independence from the economic circles, from the powerful of the day, is ensured not only by the politicians, institutions and citizens but also by the judges who should believe and act so that the rule of law is above everything and everyone. 

 

We are pooling efforts to join the free Schengen zone. There is political will and public consensus on this issue. To be admitted to this borderless area is a supreme form of political trust. We should produce clear results in the judicial reform, and show a sustainability of changes and guarantee their irreversibility – this is how we can earn trust. To earn not only the trust of the citizens who freely cross the borders, but also that of the investors who would like to be sure that law, not interests rule on our territory.

 

There is a full consensus on the correct EU funds management and the opportunity to maximally take advantage of European solidarity. We should make sure that 2015 is a record year in terms of the appropriation of EU funds. We should speed up the country’s modernization. We should adopt and enforce a law on EU funds, remove administrative obstacles, introduce online application for projects and ensure efficient oversight of the system. In 2015 we can introduce a new strategy on fighting corruption. The people expect results. Thanks to European solidarity, work on thousands of sites for the renovation of schools, kindergartens, public buildings, parks, roads, waste treatment stations and other properties is underway.

 

The state and the municipalities have awarded public procurements worth almost 10 billion leva for 2014. Unfortunately, the awarding agents are trying to avoid by all means the electronic tender, although the European legislation prescribes that at least 30 percent of the public procurements should be electronic in form. We should adopt a new Public Procurement Act, which should provide for the massive use of electronic public tenders. Whoever is willing to crack down on corruption should introduce:

1. standardized public contracts

2. electronic public tenders

3. E-services for the citizens

4. E-cards for patients

5. An energy bourse and liberalization of the energy market to counteract the irresponsible acts of a group of people in the energy sector, which is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy and symbolizes the lack of transparency, inefficiency and widespread corruption in the system. The problem with the Bulgarian energy sector and the state lies in the way it has been acting so far.

 

There are a lot of problems in the energy sector which are difficult to solve. Years on end this sector burdened the country’s financial stability with problems and it has become a serious risk to social stability and national security. There is a broad political consensus on conducting reforms in the Energy sector. We should focus on the principles which would improve the system. Now that Europe is establishing its energy union, we do not have the right to miss this chance. We should part with the piecemeal approach of solving every problem and instead look at the entire energy sector as a system.

 

There are three pillars on which the European energy union should rest – diversification, liberalization and energy efficiency. This is the major goal our efforts should be directed at. Everything else – the big gas projects, nuclear power plants are just a means to an end. It is not important how much natural gas is transported through Bulgaria but what price the households and Bulgarian companies pay for gas. Bulgaria has had the highest price of gas for decades. However, a reasonable price is achieved only through competition and market liberalization. The first steps in this direction have already been made. Furthermore, a consensus has been reached that energy liberalization for both businesses and households should be a priority in 2015.

 

The Bulgarians deserve to enjoy the freedom of choosing their electricity supplier on the free market. Energy is one of the most important pillars of national security. No security can be ensured if we rely on a single supplier, no matter which one. We have the chance, namely in the context of the European energy union and European solidarity, to overcome our weakness by building inter-connectors with our neighbors. We will thus achieve greater freedom, independence, and security, and will boost investments. Efficiency is assigned the top place in the energy sector. I will reiterate over and over again that the saved energy is the cheapest. Energy efficiency is already becoming a national priority. I am sure that the implementation of the approved large-scale plan for energy efficiency and the rehabilitation of buildings will bring more tangible benefits than any of the Grand Slam projects.

 

We agreed that political stability is the solid ground on which important public systems can be reformed. We have ensured stability – so far so good. However, we cannot achieve long-lasting stability if we do not carry out reforms. No matter who is in power or in opposition, the sectors in which high-quality changes should be made are clear. Healthcare, the pension and education systems, public administration, water supply, the sectors of Security and Energy– these are sectors in which the Bulgarian public expects that the government and parliament will pool efforts to reform. The first steps have been made. Hopefully we will see the results in 2015. I know that local elections are drawing near and I am aware how difficult it is to implement tough reforms in a year of elections. However, elections will invariably be held in the future and the Bulgarian citizens will highly appreciate a principled and responsible approach of sticking to solving problems. Every single system can be improved. The people expect a sincere attitude – we should reveal the true estimates about the state of hospitals and first-line medical care, of the social security and pension systems, we should hold a broad public debate on what we are planning to do with realistic expectations and assessment of impact. Then even the most serious reforms would be feasible, considering that we have the most valuable resource available – public support.

 

The severe blow dealt to the Bulgarian financial system after the bankruptcy of the fourth-ranking bank in Bulgaria should show us how important it is to ensure the financial stability and security of the people and the state. This can be achieved by means of functional regulatory authorities. It is important not only to cope with the crises, but also to look ahead and create reliable mechanisms which should protect us from repeating our mistakes. 

 

In the month of political consultations, esteemed Assembly deputies, we reached a broad consensus on Bulgaria’s accession to the Single Supervisory Mechanism of the European Banking Union. This membership ensures financial stability and security to the citizens and the economy. Bulgaria is the country with the lowest debt in the Balkans, and one of the three countries with the lowest debt in the EU. We should preserve this advantage.  

 

There was a 1.7 percent growth of the economy in 2014, which exceeded our expectations. However, it is insufficient for the people to feel it. There is a recovery in most economic sectors. The efforts to achieve stability have already yielded results. Hopefully, we are at the beginning of a positive process. Reforms will further unleash the potential. In 2015 we have set a target of a conservative growth of 0.8 percent, though we can reach up to 2 percent growth and exceed 3 percent in 2016. The investments in infrastructure should be speeded up, as they will ensure growth and reduce the regional imbalances. The national program for rehabilitation of buildings and energy efficiency will also boost growth, consumption and improve the Bulgarian people’s quality of life. Tens of thousands of jobs will be created in the SMEs. 

 

No matter what reforms we implement, if we do not focus on education, we will not succeed. Everyone should acquire basic competence. High-quality education and its contemporary forms are a strategic priority and the result of a broad political consensus to take action. We have reached a broad consensus on the introduction of a dual education system so that our children can acquire not only knowledge, but also skills. They should have knowledge, but they should also have skills!

 

The measures to be taken in support of the SMEs, the financing of enterprises that have just started, the focus on reducing the youth unemployment enjoy a full political consensus and raise expectations for action and results.

 

Bulgarian winter tourism has an enormous potential. We should offer the Bulgarian ski destinations prospects for development, in compliance with the European ecological standards. In 2015 we can adopt principled amendments of the tourism law, which will place tourist industry on a firm basis and will ensure stable prospects for development.

 

Unfortunately the international security environment has considerably changed in a negative direction. A lot of the principles we were used to and which we have taken for granted have been jeopardized.

 

Bulgaria is member of the EU – a unique and democratic union in which the countries are not divided into small and big, into strong and weak and each country’s opinion is important and each country has an equal standing. Peace and prosperity are impossible without the rule of law. Obeying the rules is a real guarantee of peace. The Balkans and Europe have been destroyed more than once namely because somebody has decided that they can impose their aims through the power of weapons. However, weapons are a proof of the lack of arguments. In the 21st century, learning from the mistakes of our predecessors, we agree that there is no other alternative to resolving the conflict between Russia and Ukraine than the peaceful road of diplomacy. We should not once again divide the Bulgarians into philes and phobes, motivated only by expectations of narrow partisan gains. 

 

Ever since Bulgaria’s national revival, Bulgarian society has supported the European road of development, moreover, not for geographic reasons. Europe is our civilization choice because we have chosen the international legal order, because we respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of any country, because we have opted for human rights and freedoms and for the rule of law, which lie at the heart of the European project and comprise the Bulgarian national ideals.

 

The changed security environment once again raises the issue of increasing the capabilities of our Armed Forces, so that they can adequately respond to the risks. The national security is guaranteed only as part of NATO’s system for collective security. Bulgaria must be a partner everyone could rely on by fulfilling the assumed commitments. Although we are all aware of the financial difficulties we have experienced in the past years, security is priceless. The shortage of money is not an excuse. The Bulgarian Army needs acceptable and worthy budget allocations, considering that investments in defense are investments in national sovereignty and public peace. Bulgaria should strictly adhere to the commitments assumed at the NATO summit in Wales and I voice my hope that the Assembly deputies and the government will provide the necessary extra resources. Security costs money, yet peace and freedom are priceless. 

 

Esteemed Assembly deputies,

 

Election legislation has been in the center of political debate for more than 20 years. We are aware that we have not held two elections in a row in compliance with the same law. To achieve a stable democratic tradition and electoral process, I proposed that a referendum on people’s electoral rights is held. The strength of direct democracy is namely in that. We will create these norms not only with the will of those in power, but also with the will of the people. I am convinced that direct democracy will strengthen the public system of democratic values, will largely mobilize the nation’s potential and will increase the legitimacy of the important political decisions. Direct democracy can cure representative democracy. The aim of the referendum is to strengthen the multi-party system while preserving the parties’ interest as the pillars of parliamentary democracy. I will exercise my constitutional right and initiate a national referendum on the electoral rights of the Bulgarian people. We have reached a consensus on holding the referendum together with the forthcoming local elections. We should work to this effect.

 

Esteemed Assembly deputies,

 

In the month of political consultations we agreed that we should set ourselves ambitious, yet attainable goals. We should agree on achieving four priority goals prior to Bulgaria’s taking over the EU presidency, which should motivate the politicians, the institutions and the administration and should strengthen the European integration:

 

1 goal: Schengen accession

2 goal: Accession to the ERM II exchange rate mechanism

3 goal: Accession to the Single Supervisory Mechanism of the European Banking Union

4 goal: Launch of the European Energy Union in Bulgaria by meeting the planned criteria – at least three independent gas sources, market liberalization and creating an energy bourse for Southeastern Europe.

Attaining these goals will create a qualitatively new environment, and will boost the self-esteem and ambitions of the Bulgarian people, and will help us ensure our worthy place in the European family.

 

Let us give a new impetus to the integration processes and nationally-responsible actions in 2015. Let me summarize: there is a lot of reasonable work to be done. Hopefully 2015 will be a year of stability and of reforms, a year of progress on the national priorities.

 

Thank you for your attention! I wish you successful work!  

American business delegation visits Bulgaria at the initiative of the Head of State

High child poverty requires an adequate institutional response and real social integration, the head of state notes at a meeting with Eurochild President and President of Malta from 2014 to 2019.

The conversation focused on the security environment and the regional and international challenges that arise from multiple and intertwining crises, including military ones

During the talks, the two discussed topics related to the strategic partnership between Bulgaria and the United States of America and the prospects for the development of bilateral relations