Fitch Ratings has raised the outlook on Bulgaria's Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) from stable to positive. The current assessment stems from lower macroeconomic risks associated with the Covid-19 crisis, the continuing interest in joining the euro zone, as well as the support from EU funds.
In the coming years, Bulgaria is expected to be one of the main beneficiaries of EU financing, including 16.6 billion euros (27% of GDP in 2020) under the multi-annual financial framework (2021-2027) and 7.5 billion euros (12% of GDP for 2020) in the form of EU grants under the NGEU mechanism. According to Fitch Ratings, this would increase economic growth from projected 3% in 2021 to 4-5% in the period 2022-2025.
In the long run, however, Fitch also points out a number of unfavorable factors, including the demographic structure of the population.
The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) announced that it is lowering the base interest rate to 3.63% as of July 1. In May and June, the base interest rate was 3.78%. Bulgaria is in a currency board and the Bulgarian lev is pegged to the euro. Therefore,..
Bulgaria fulfils three of the Maastricht criteria for joining the euro zone, but still does not meet the price stability and inflation targets, according to a report by the European Commission, as quoted by BTA. Bulgaria does not currently meet the..
Bulgaria will receive €65.2 million from the EU for a project to reinforce the electricity grid to better support the integration of renewable energy, the European Commission said in a statement. The money is part of a total of nearly €3 billion..
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