Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Losing €8bn under RRP a huge mistake, former deputy prime minister for EU funds warns

Атанас Пеканов
Photo: Савина Спасова

Bulgaria has given up the fight for reforms and investments under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), former caretaker deputy prime minister for EU funds Atanas Pekanov told BNR. He said that Nikolai Denkov's government had made a serious mistake by failing to pass the necessary laws, when it had a parliamentary majority.

The former minister warned that if Bulgaria did not use the funds under the RRP, there would be long-term consequences because the country would miss out on important investments.

"They all believe that because the economy is improving, this money is not needed in Bulgaria, but this is a grave strategic mistake. Losing 8 billion euros by refusing to accept reforms that would be helpful would be a huge act of self-sabotage," Atanas Pekanov said. He added that Bulgaria does not stand well among EU countries because of political instability and the lack of a regular government.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Deputy PM Tomislav Donchev

European Commission withholds payment under recovery and resilience plan over failure to implement anti-corruption reforms

The European Commission has decided to withhold EUR 215 million from the second payment under Bulgaria’s recovery and resilience plan, the EC told the Bulgarian National Radio. The country is to receive EUR 439 million. EU may cut money for..

published on 11/5/25 4:39 PM

Parliament sets up ad-hoc committee to investigate Soros’ activities in Bulgaria

With 111 votes for, 51 against and 43 abstained, the National Assembly approved the establishment of an ad-hoc committee to investigate the activities of George Soros and his son Alexander Soros and their foundations in this country financing..

published on 11/5/25 3:15 PM
Representatives of businesses explaining their boycott

Businesses boycott discussion of budget 2026, describe it as “leftist”

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev cancelled the meeting, scheduled for today, of the National Tripartite Council on the draft budget for 2006 after, in an unprecedented move, businesses decided not to take..

published on 11/5/25 2:46 PM