The MPs approved, at first reading, the update of the state budget. As of 1 July a differentiated VAT rate is being put in place – for bread VAT will be zero, for natural gas supplies – 9% instead of the current 20%. VAT on wine and beer served at bars and restaurants will be 20%, up from 9%, a reduction that was introduced during the pandemic. Pensions are to go up as well.
The budget is calculated at an economic growth of 2.9% and an annual inflation rate of 11.9%, even though, according to the National Statistical Institute, annual inflation now stands at over 15%.
The most heated debates in plenary were over the increase in the debt limit to EUR 5.1 billion. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Assen Vassilev gave as the reason for this the need to revolve old government debts.
Cooperation between Bulgaria and China in the field of agriculture and food is very active and is constantly expanding. This was stated at a meeting in Sofia between Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Lozana Vasileva and Wan Lejun, Chief Animal..
Bulgaria is making good progress toward joining the Eurozone, as inflation is decreasing towards the threshold set by the criteria, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development President Odile Renaud-Basso said in an interview with BTA. The..
Bulgaria's Ministry of Transport has been working for years to develop Corridor No. 8, connecting the Adriatic with the Black Sea through Albania, North Macedonia and Bulgaria. Of the 1,220 km of railway line along the corridor, 747 km are on the..
The preparation of the non-banking financial sector for the introduction of the euro is at a very advanced stage and a significant part of it has..
The liberalization of the electricity market for household consumers and their entering the free electricity market, something companies did years..
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