12.11.2009

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Simeon Djankov took part in the regular ECOFIN meeting held in Brussels on 9 and 10 November 2009.

The Ministers discussed the fiscal exit strategies and adopted conclusions regarding the sustainability of public finances.

An agreement has been reached at the meeting for raising minimum excise duties on cigarettes from EUR 64 to EUR 90 per 1000 pcs. Eight countries, among which Bulgaria, will have a transition period until 2018 to introduce the new rate.  

Minister Djankov made a contribution on \"Sustainability of Public Finances and Exit Strategies\" during the traditional dialogue of the EU Finance Ministers and the EFTA countries.

Within the Council, Minister Djankov met with Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Joaquin Almunia and informed him about the most recent results regarding 2009 budget implementation. Mr. Almunia was also presented with the urgent measures taken by the Government to achieve a balanced budget by the end of this year and the 2010 budget tabled for discussion in Parliament.

The same topics were discussed also during the meeting of the Bulgarian Finance Minister with his newly appointed German colleague Wolfgang Schauble. Minister Djankov has been invited to visit Berlin in December, part of the visit to be dedicated to the preparation of the official visit of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov in Germany in January 2010.