Bulgaria implements complex Eurozone-aligned budget procedure

Former Minister of Labor and Social Policy Hristina Hristova has characterized Bulgaria’s current budget procedure as highly complex. She noted that the process is complicated by two main factors: Bulgaria is following budget procedures as a Eurozone member for the first time, and the European Commission has initiated an excess deficit procedure.

Hristova clarified that the document recently sent to Brussels and the Bulgarian National Assembly is not a traditional budget, but rather information regarding the country’s budgetary framework. She observed that the current plan contains more text than specific figures, making detailed analysis difficult until more numerical data is released.

The framework includes responses to five specific requirements from the EU Council. While the plan suggests continued exceptions for the education and security/defense sectors, Hristova noted that negotiations regarding public sector wage increases exceeding 5% remain ongoing between unions and the Ministry of Finance. The issue of how the state will justify its deficit remains a significant concern.