Bulgarian PM in Prague: Low Pensions Can Fill EU Budget Gaps

Politics » DIPLOMACY | October 4, 2011, Tuesday // 14:45
Bulgarian PM in Prague: Low Pensions Can Fill EU Budget Gaps: Bulgarian PM in Prague: Low Pensions Can Fill EU Budget Gaps Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas (L) welcomes Bulgarian Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov (R) before their talks in Prague. Photo by EPA/BGNES

The Czech Republic is firmly supporting Bulgaria's Schengen membership, and sees imposing additional clauses on it as unfair and improper.

The statement was made Tuesday by Czech Prime Minister, Petr Necas, during a meeting in Prague with Bulgarian counterpart, Boyko Borisov, who is there on an official visit.

"Bulgaria has invested significant financial resources to comply with requirements. The stand of some European countries, which impose new requirements is unfair; we don't see it as European behavior," Necas said.

Borisov, on his part, stressed that it is very important that Bulgaria's opposition hears loud and clear what Europe says about his rule.

"We are not under fire now; we fulfilled the requirements. We are loyal to the EU as if we are members of Schengen despite the fact that we aren't. This is the only fair way to go and this is why Petr is noting it here. They know we are not wasting money and we are guarding the EU the way they wish," the Bulgarian PM stated.

He added that the Bulgarian and Czech cabinets have the exact same understanding about what it means to be a EU member state, which is accomplished by fiscal discipline and cohesion policies.

"European countries, which have a budget deficit higher than 3% should lower retirement pensions to the Bulgarian level and will solve their problem in 2-3 years," Borisov stated, adding his cabinet of the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, GERB, party is trying to pass in the Parliament constitutional amendments banning any government from having a deficit above 3%.

"This must also enter in a common European Constitution and each EU government must amend their Constitution – every country, which is in trouble, and is asking for assistance, must lower wages and pensions to the Bulgarian level and they will immediately tame their deficit," the PM said.

Borisov further stressed the Bulgarian government wishes to make pensions EUR 2 000 a month, to have elderly live a good live, and travel around, but it would lead to a gapping hole in the budget . He voiced indignation from the "populism of European leaders."

When asked by Czech journalists to comment on reports of wide-spread anti-Roma rallies in the country, the PM explained the case in the village of Katunitsa was purely criminal and all perpetrators are behind bars.

On September 23, a young man from Katunitsa, Angel Petrov, 19, was run over by a minivan, driven by an associate of the notorious local Roma boss, Kiril Rashkov AKA Tsar Kiro. Petrov died as result of the incident.

In the aftermath, Bulgaria became gripped by week-long protests. At some locations protests have turned violent and anti-Roma racist slogans were shouted. Over 350 have been arrested. Tsar Kiro is probed for tax evasion and is held under permanent detention, under a Court rule.

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Tags: pensions, wages, budget deficit, Schengen, Prague, Boyko Borisov, Petr Necas, Prime Minister, Czech, GERB, Katunitsa, Kiril Rashkov

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