27.12.2011

Bulgaria can become the 19^th country in the European Union having a fiscal police. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Simeon Djankov said the above in an interview for the \"Standart Daily\" newspaper, published today. He considers the introduction of preliminary investigation by customs officers one of his greatest successes as minister during the year. For 2011 revenue administrations have collected BGN 1,5 billion more on an annual basis and next year revenues are expected to increase by another billion. \"Obviously collection has been improving and this trend will continue,\" stressed Minister Djankov.

A number of countries have already increased VAT and if we succeed to reduce our tax rate by the end of our term of office we might also be among the top three European countries in terms of lowest indirect taxes, projected the Deputy Prime Minister.

The agenda for 2012 will include increase of pensions in general. This will happen when it becomes clear that the system is balanced in the long run, added the Finance Minister before the newspaper. \"A very important point in our policy is that we think not only of our own mandate. The step we are taking next year in the pension reform will have results in 2016, 2017 and 2018.\" \"Reality has shown that we have no other path than making reforms,\" was categorical Simeon Djankov.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister there were no fears regarding the Euro and the single European currency was Bulgaria\'s future. Our country meets the criteria for accession to the ERM-2 and the Euro area. However, the focus right now is on joining the European fiscal treaty, which is a good solution in his opinion. Without it the Euro area itself would not be stable, commented Simeon Djankov.