A pro-European cabinet is underpinned by a consensus that reforms are needed, the Bulgarian Prime Minister designate Boyko Borisov told lawmakers just before his candidacy is voted in Parliament.

Borisov said his cabinet's main goal is to make sure the state will function properly and will be governed by stable institutions.

The new government should also outline Bulgaria's perspective for a decade on, he explained in the National Assembly.

On Thursday center-right GERB, right-wing Reformist Bloc, nationalist Patriotic Front and left-wing ABV reached a deal on how to form the next Bulgarian cabinet, with GERB and the RB sealing a coalition agreement, the PF supporting their alliance and ABV sending Ivaylo Kalfin to the cabinet and ensuring the support of another 11 MEPs. The government will thus count on a parliamentary majority of 137 (out of 240) lawmakers.

In Borisov's words public administration, education, the creation of new jobs, pushing citizens' income up, the proper allocation of EU funds and preserving both environment and energy security will be the executive's main priorities.

"We are trying to bring forward to you a pro-European, reformist government," Borisov announced from the rostrum.

He underscored the "difficulty" posed by the economic situation, the lack or stagnation of reforms in a number of sectors and flawed social policy, with many of the problems generated over the past 20 years and especially in the past 2 years of "instability".

"Our government is a reformist one because a number of sectors are outdated (sic!) and taxpayers' money have been unduly spent," he added.

The conservatives' leader reminded of his previous intentions to hand back the mandate by Thursday had he failed to form a government and added the only other option had been early elections for a second time.

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