PM Denkov to EU, US Ambassadors: The cabinet Is working for political stability

The new regular government is working for political stability in Bulgaria to ensure good conditions for investment and to raise the living standards of the people, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister, Nikolai Denkov, said at meetings with the ambassadors of the European Union countries and the United States today, June 22. It is the lack of stability over the past more than two years that is the main obstacle to greater activity of both European and American businesses, it became clear during the talks, the government press office said.

The discussion with the heads of European diplomatic missions was hosted by Prime Minister Denkov and by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mariya Gabriel. They presented the priorities of the government, which started its term in office under a clearly spelled out legislative programme and is actively working to draw up a specific governance programme. The main foreign policy issues for Bulgaria are the entry into Schengen and the euro area, Nikolai Denkov and Maria Gabriel reiterated.

"In order to achieve not only these two goals, but also to actually improve the lives of the Bulgarian citizens, it is important to have a stable parliament that will pass the necessary laws," the Prime Minister said.

He put the emphasis on working to achieve real rule of law in the country, which can only happen through a serious reform of the judiciary.

Bulgaria will step up its efforts to meet the US criteria for visa waiver. The government is to appoint a national coordinator on this issue. At a meeting with the United States Ambassador to our country Kenneth Merten, Prime Minister Denkov undertook to personally monitor this process. The two agreed that the Fulbright and Work&Travel programmes, which are scientific and student exchange programmes respectively, are positive examples of excellent cooperation.

Images by Council of Ministers

Bulgaria will send at least two trade attachés to the United States in the near future, the meeting also made clear. Both sides expect a positive effect from this step. According to Ambassador Merten, over the past few years, American investors have refrained from activity here mainly because of the political instability in the country.

The Bulgarian Prime Minister underlined the role of the US in the diversification of the energy sector and noted the contract with Westinghouse for the supply of fresh nuclear fuel. However, in order to complete this process, the US fuel needs to be licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Agency. Acad. Denkov explained Bulgaria's intentions to introduce heavier penalties for human trafficking. The Prime Minister and his guest agreed that countering misinformation is a priority for both countries and they will work on it together.

The Prime Minister and Ambassador Merten also discussed cooperation between Bulgaria and the US in the security and defence fields, the preparation of a bilateral social security agreement, the European integration of the Western Balkans and other topics of common interest.