28.04.2014

Minister of Finance Petar Chobanov, Minister of Economy and Energy Dragomir Stoynev and the management of the Bulgarian Development Bank visited Haskovo today to meet managers and entrepreneurs from the municipality of Haskovo within the Bank's campaign to present the new possibilities for financing as well as the whole set of instruments for flexible and low-interest lending to SMEs. He emphasized that today's meeting was possible because of the better business environment ensured by the Government.

"VAT reimbursement to companies has enabled them to better plan their business processes and has allowed for the state to better plan its revenue and expenditure", Minister Chobanov emphasized. The Finance Minister presented some of the measures of the Ministry of Finance aimed at strengthening the control over intra-Community supplies through the activities of the new Fiscal Control Directorate of NRA in order for the goods of high fiscal risk to become a normal part of the market. The purpose behind this is for producers to find their place on the Bulgarian market and to increase their production. The MoF also strengthens customs control by making more inspections together with the Ministry of Interior, which provides for better revenue collection. Minister Chobanov reminded that the municipality of Haskovo was going to receive BGN 13.5 million from the Growth and Sustainable Development of the Regions Public Investment Programme. Around BGN 2 million was granted to the municipality of Haskovo which had thus far not been granted any such resources from the state.

Earlier today Minister Chobanov and Minister Stoynev opened a new complex for X-ray therapy to the specialized oncological hospital in Haskovo.

Minister Chobanov had a press conference for journalists and asked about his opinion of the trade union's proposal for extension of the maternity leave by 6 months, the minister said that he was "a bit skeptical of this idea as the topic should be considered in a comprehensive manner because on the one hand we have the efforts to resolve the demographic issues and on the other hand we have the possibilities for integration of mothers in the labour market". According to him, a lot had already been made concerning the period of the maternity leave which was one of the longest in the EU. He proposed to consider other mechanisms for supporting them. According to the minister, this could be achieved through programmes engaging the people that were free at this point with bringing up children, with mothers getting back to work more quickly.

"When municipalities work conscientiously, no financial adjustments are needed. Where we have guilty behavour, the guilty ones should shoulder the responsibility". This is what Minister Chobanov answered to a journalist's question about any future financial adjustments of the municipalities under OPE. He explained that the minister of finance was not supposed to make financial adjustments under the operational programmes. Mr. Chobanov underlined that the Audit of EU Funds Agency was part of the structure of the Ministry of Finance but was an independent body monitored by Brussels. "There is no interference in or political influence on the work of the audit authority", added the Finance Minister.