The Bulgarian government aims at boosting EU funds absorption by using the Spanish experience. This was announced by Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov after a meeting in Sofia with the honorary chairman of the Spanish People’s Party and former Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Maria Aznar. He was on a two-day visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of PM Borissov, to take part in a forum entitled “The Role of Rightist Governments in Overcoming the Effects of the Global Financial and Economic Crisis." “I am convinced that Bulgaria’s future is bright. A good government and the will of the Bulgarians will surely bring success. The policy of Bulgaria is strategically correct,” Jose Maria Aznar said after the meeting with Mr. Borissov.
Some of the major topics in the discussions were improvement of the administrative procedures for absorption of EU funds, the policy of economic convergence in the EU, as well as increasing the security.
“I must say that I am well acquainted with the work of PM Borissov as a former Chief Secretary of the Ministry of Interior. When I was Prime Minister of Spain (1996-2000), our cooperation was very good,” Jose Maria Aznar said. “This was the reason behind the decision to award Mr. Borissov with the Spanish Cross of Police Merit with a red star. It is a pleasure for me to see that Mr. Borissov continues to pay efforts in the fight against organised crime and for increasing the security of the Bulgarian citizens. I think that the international cooperation in the sphere as well as cooperation between the judicial systems is of major importance. I also think that a special court similar to the Spanish national anti-terrorism court will be useful to Bulgaria.”
According to Mr. Aznar, the policy of Bulgaria for increasing the economic cooperation with other EU Member States must continue, as it is important for the country. Better absorption of EU funds is also of major importance. Mr. Aznar said that work in the sphere continues and this will increase the competitiveness of Bulgaria. For Radio Bulgaria he also said that if the country were competitive and open to the world, it would manage to overcome the crisis swiftly. But if the budget deficit and the unemployment increased, the process would be slowed.
European funds are not miraculous, Mr. Aznar warned. They are just a good instrument. The funds must be managed well and good projects must be created, as well as the administrative capacity raised. “This is a long road, but the important thing is to start it and be sure that it is the right thing to do,” Mr. Aznar concluded.
Radio Bulgaria asked him what time Bulgaria would need to reach the average level of Spanish absorption of EU funds. The former Spanish Prime Minister answered that the country would need a few years. He added that in the period 1976-1996 Spain could not manage to increase its GDP, which was about 76% of the average GDP in the EU, although the country became a EU Member State in 1986. The reason was that for a period of 10 years, Spain did not have the policy for intensifying cooperation with the EU Member States,” Jose Maria Aznar said.
“In the period 1996-2004, however, a very important reform took place in Spain,” he added. “Spain now has a GDP equal to 98% of the average in the EU. There are three reasons – economic growth, employment, and 98% absorption of EU funds. In order to reach this level of absorption, people able to develop new projects and having the capacity to manage them are needed. If Bulgaria managed to increase its GDP by just 1%, and it was used reasonably, this would be very important for the country. This 1% can be achieved through these projects. Time would be needed but the road must be taken.”
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov says that by the end of the mandate the government will achieve a record boost in EU funds absorption. The aim is to reach the Spanish level of absorption during the Aznar government. At the moment absorption is less than 8%. So, isn’t the goal too ambitious?
“Yes, it is ambitious,” PM Borissov said. “ But this is the only chance for Bulgaria to reach the average European level of development. That is why Minister for EU Funds, Tomislav Donchev, has ambitious goals. That is why experts from the World Bank have already arrived to Bulgaria to work with us on these projects. That is why we invite experts like Mr. Aznar. This will surely lead to actual results. We have greatly increased absorption of EU funds for the past year and we could increase it tenfold during the years to come,” the PM concluded.
English: Alexander Markov
