Bulgaria does not agree with the initiative to introduce a common consolidated tax base for corporate taxation nor with the proposals for a new tax on financial transactions. This was announced on Wednesday (January 11th) by Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov after a regular meeting of the government regarding the discussion about fiscal union within the member states. In addition, Bulgaria does not accept additional financial commitments nor a creation of a mechanism to help overcome the crisis, said Mr. Mladenov.
We say ‘yes’ to financial discipline and no to restrictions on our economic policies that could stem from any commitment to obligations that could be back-breaking for the state, said also Minister Mladenov.
At present, political parties are entering into consultations with the parliamentary groups to achieve a constitutional majority to pass the requirement of a 3 percent inflation threshold. This can only happen with a change to the Constitution. Only then Bulgaria will meet the requirements set out in the project for the EU fiscal union, which must be approved by EU member states at the end of January. Mr. Mladenov was clear that the EU has an urgent need for strict observance of rules and fiscal discipline as well as coordination of economic policies of countries in the community.
On Wednesday the Government approved the Annual Programme and Action Plan for 2012 for Bulgaria’s membership in the EU. There, Bulgaria expresses its positions on the multiannual financial framework for the period 2014 – 2020 regarding the reform in the Common Agricultural Policy and cohesion policy, and not in the last place it states its position on EU enlargement to Western Balkans said Mr. Mladenov.
Out of 235 proceedings brought by the European Commission against Bulgaria, 181 are now officially closed, only two others are in an ongoing court status. For five years of EU membership, Sofia has participated in the adoption of 500 directives.
