The caretaker government announced on Monday that it secured EUR 400 million through the second and third payments of Bulgaria’s Recovery and Resilience Plan, following an extension of the deadline for meeting key conditions negotiated with the European Commission. During a joint briefing with Deputy Prime Minister for EU funds Maria Nedina, caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov detailed the extension, which relates to requirements concerning anti-corruption legislation and the establishment of an independent mechanism to investigate the Prosecutor General. Gurov noted that when the caretaker cabinet assumed office in late February, its primary objectives were submitting a request for the fourth payment and securing nearly half a billion euros from the second and third tranches.
He stated that these funds had been stalled due to insufficient progress on anti-corruption reforms and the creation of an independent mechanism for investigating the prosecutor general. “In early April, we requested EUR 900 million under the fourth payment. More importantly, we did not write off the EUR 400 million that had been abandoned by the previous government,” Gurov remarked.
He added that while Bulgaria faced the prospect of a final refusal from the European Commission on May 4, intensive negotiations led by Nedina’s team successfully extended the compliance deadline. Gurov stressed that this extension mandates clear action from the incoming government and parliamentary majority: establishing a new anti-corruption commission and ensuring independent oversight of the Prosecutor General. He confirmed that the necessary legislative texts have been prepared by the deputy prime minister’s team, approved by the caretaker government, and submitted to Parliament.
The caretaker Prime Minister expressed hope that the new majority will utilize the gained time effectively. He concluded by stating that the caretaker government is leaving approximately EUR 2 billion more in the budget for the next regular government.
Topics: #caretaker #gurov #government
