Bulgaria Loses Billions Annually Due to Delayed Schengen Membership, Warns Economy Minister
Bulgaria stands to lose approximately BGN 1 billion each year due to its continued exclusion from full membership in the Schengen area
Bulgaria's Finance Minister, Plamen Oresharski, predicted Friday that the Bulgarian economy would shrink by between 2% and 3% in 2009.
Oresharski underscored the high level of uncertainty, which made him talk in terms of approximate numbers.
In his words, the first quarter of 2009 had turned out to be even worse than the predictions.
Yet, during his visit to the northern city of Pleven Friday, Oresharski stressed that despite the decline, Bulgaria was doing relatively well in the global financial crisis, compared to most European countries.
The Minister also said that even if the second and third quarters of 2009 weren't much better than the first quarter, at least it was for sure they would not be worse thanks to seasonal employment and other specifically Bulgarian factors.
"If you go ten years back in time, you'll see that the first quarter has always been the worst for the Bulgarian economy", Oresharski said
"At the present moment, the situation remains under peaceful which gives us confidence, and an answer to a question which is often discussed in the public sphere, and, I believe, with political motivation, - whether we should be seeking foreign aid or not.
Observing all indicators of our financial and monetary system, at the present moment we are not concerned that any crisis funding is necessary. But I would recommend to any analyst watching these indicators really closely, because as we saw in the USA in 2008, they can change very quickly", Oresharski explained.
According to the Minister, Bulgaria's fiscal reserves were also sufficient to give confidence that they can meet even more unfavorable developments. He added that the lowest level of state revenue was recorded in March 2009, which corresponded with the predictions that March would be the worst month for the global economy.
Oresharski also stated that the income of Bulgaria's state budget, which has so far been lower than envisaged, was within the ranges previously discussed, and the fact that the government had no need and no intention to review the state budget, was positive in itself.
The Minister did say, however, there was a possibility that some additional budgetary restrictions might have to instituted in order to complete 2009 successfully in financial terms.
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