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PM: Bulgaria with Most Favourable Financial Framework among EU Aspirants

On Tuesday, the Commission proposed that the share of the EU budget devoted to Romania and Bulgaria for the period 2007-2009 total EUR 15.4 B in commitments and EUR 9 B in actual payments. A total of EUR 4.245 B should go to Bulgaria.

"Let's face it - Bulgaria's membership in the European Union is tough, long-term commitment that will bring us not only good things. We will meet with many difficulties. It must be clear that the enterprising and industrious will be the ones to benefit from EU membership. The money will be paid to enterprising people," Saxe-Coburg told MPs.

The prime minister underlined that the allotment of such a generous financial aid package must have been a difficult decision in view of the economic difficulties experienced worldwide and in the EU. He praised the Cabinet for their vision during the negotiations with Brussels and for their fruitful efforts in the country.

Now is the time when issues, crucial for the development of the country in the next several years, are being solved; the time has come for the players in the socio-political life, who initiate campaigns against certain institutions and persons, to take on the responsibility for their actions, the prime minister said in his speech. Saxe-Coburg apparently referred to the legal claims on his hereditary property and the lodging swindle scandal that raged in the country over the sale of state-owned apartments to high-ranking officials in the state administration at preferential prices.

Despite these campaigns, the prime minister vowed the Cabinet's willingness to modernize Bulgaria.

Bulgarian state leaders, including Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, Euro-integration Minister Meglena Kuneva and Finance Minister Milen Velchev expressed content with the proposal just after it was published.