PM Denkov after meeting with EU Commissioner Iliana Ivanova: The only possibility which is being discussed, is for Bulgaria to be admitted in Schengen in December 2023

"The only possibility we are currently discussing for Bulgaria’s admission in Schengen is December 2023. We are working on this every day. A lot of these efforts are diplomatic, as noise and publicity do not always help in this type of effort," Nikolay Denkov said after a meeting with Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Iliana Ivanova on September 28.

The Commission's position is that Bulgaria and Romania meet the membership criteria and actively contribute to the better functioning of the Schengen system. The aim is for this to happen by the end of this year, Ivanova stressed.

Regarding the funds Bulgaria could lose under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, the prime minister commented that there is a delay, which is related to the reform of the justice system and changes in the energy sector.

Bulgaria will present documents in early October to the European Commission. They are at the final stage. A negotiation process is starting in which we have to fine-tune all the texts regarding the RRP by the end of the year. More than a billion and 400 million BGN will not enter Bulgaria," the Bulgarian prime minister said.

"Payments under the Plan are made on the basis of milestones and targets met. The sooner these measures are implemented by the Bulgarian government, the payment will happen, hopefully by the end of this year, over 724 million euros is the request for the second payment. It is important that the Bulgarian side meets these commitments. Bulgaria alone has not handed over its territorial plans and has already lost almost €100 million, another €800 million is in question," Iliana Ivanova stressed.

According to the PM, the priorities of the Bulgarian government were discussed at the meeting.

He also stressed that there is no doubt about the good cooperation.

"Schengen, the euro area are on the agenda. We can and must work together. You have to ensure stability, as well as taking quick and adequate decisions. We promised to be in constant contact, communication and dialogue with the Bulgarian authorities," Iliana Ivanova added.

When asked by BNT, the Bulgarian Commissioner said that through the regional innovation valleys we can help to catch up the gap that exists between the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the more developing countries in the European Union.

She explained that the EC's goal is to build 100 regional innovation valleys. In Bulgaria, such a regional innovation valley in the field of bioeconomy and food will be opened in Plovdiv, she added. She said the aim is to help small and medium-sized enterprises.

The Prime Minister said that Bulgaria has not yet adopted a law on innovation, the new law on research and innovation is ready and in the coming weeks it will be submitted and voted in the Council of Ministers and from there it will be presented to the National Assembly for adoption.

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"We have the hydrogen valley in Stara Zagora, we are starting to catch up on milestones that are overdue," Denkov said.

He commented on the re-voting of the amendments to the Judiciary Act after President Rumen Radev's veto: "I do not expect any surprises. It is very clear the structure that the majority in the National Assembly is currently working on regarding the structure of the Supreme Judicial Council and what the responsibilities of the prosecutor general should be. We expect the changes in the Constitution by mid-December this year."