Economic forum with focus on Western Balkans takes place in Plovdiv

Bulgaria could enter the Eurozone waiting room even before the end of the year, Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov said at an economic forum in Plovdiv on June 26. The two-day meeting, attended by ambassadors, economists and bankers, focuses on the Western Balkans. Prime Minister Boyko Borissov stressed that this issue was raised during the Bulgarian presidency of the Council of the EU. All the differences in the region, including history, can be solved, as there are politicians in the Balkans at the moment with reason and experience, he said.

Prime Minister Borissov focused the attention of the participants in the Plovdiv Economic Forum on important joint projects for the region such as ports, motorways, railroads and gas pipelines.

Borissov stressed that he expects Bulgaria and North Macedonia to maintain good neighbourly relations, which will also create a good business climate.

There are currently politicians in the Balkans with reason and experience and we will overcome these difficulties, Borissov said. Bulgaria’s foreign minister, Ekaterina Zaharieva, called for a change in history books in North Macedonia.

Boyko Borissov urged Turkey and Greece to find a sensible solution for the gas fields in Cyprus because it would not be good to reach to sanctions for Turkey.

Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov said that the size of taxes in Bulgaria will not be changed, the fight against the gray sector remains a top priority, and according to preliminary data for the first quarter, the country’s economy marks an increase of 4.8%.

Goranov stressed that he sees no obstacle to Bulgaria joining the ERM2 mechanism before the end of the year. And he called for the period of low interest rates in Europe to be used as effectively as possible.