President Radev: The caretaker government is working to increase transparency in the institutions
The caretaker cabinet has proven that ministers with different political persuasions can unite around clear principles, priorities and values. One of the priorities of this cabinet is to increase transparency in the work of institutions and restore public confidence in them, President Rumen Radev said on June 16 at a working meeting with the ambassadors of the EU member states, Switzerland and the United States.
The meeting was held at the National Museum of History and was attended by Vice President Iliana Yotova and a representative of the European Commission in Bulgaria. The political situation in the country, the fight against corruption, the forthcoming hosting of the “Three Seas” Initiative in Bulgaria, as well as the European integration of the Republic of North Macedonia were among the topics raised by the diplomatic representatives at the meeting.
The sanctions imposed on Bulgarian individuals and companies under the US Global Magnitsky Act were also discussed during the conversation.
The President pointed out that the next Bulgarian Parliament will be expected to develop a legal framework that would provide procedures and approaches for the institutions to react in such cases in the future. The caretaker government has already taken initial steps in this direction to prevent the blocking of public funds and to protect the country's banking sector. Rumen Radev called for measures to be developed at European level as well, in order not to block European funds earmarked for individual member states.
The public demands real results in the fight against corruption at the highest levels of government and expect an unwavering commitment of the Bulgarian institutions and the partners of our country to the establishment of justice and transparency, the President added.
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The spending of huge public funds by the former government through the so-called in-house award, not through public procurement was also c0mmented
The head of state described as a step in the right direction the decision of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs in the European Parliament to send a mission to Bulgaria after the sanctions imposed under the Global Magnitsky Act on Bulgarian individuals and companies.
The establishment of the “Three Seas” Initiative as a platform for active economic and investment partnership is important not only for the countries of Eastern Europe, but also for achieving real social and economic cohesion in the European Union, the head of state said during the meeting.
Rumen Radev highlighted the contribution of the Bulgarian hosting to attracting Greece as a guest of the forum in Sofia, as well as to the search for intelligent solutions in the area of transport, energy and digital connectivity in the region by connecting scientific and educational centres of the participating countries.
Bulgaria supports the European perspective of the Republic of North Macedonia and the establishment of the country as a strong ally in NATO, Rumen Radev stressed.
The head of state praised the positive signals in recent weeks in the relations between Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia and, above all, the resumption of dialogue at the highest level. The President expressed hope that this dialogue would lead to specific sustainable and irreversible results in our bilateral relations with the Republic of North Macedonia, which would also accelerate the European perspective of our southwestern neighbour.
