“Within the framework of the current National Assembly, there is an opportunity to adopt all legislative changes to allow our country to receive a fourth and fifth payment of 2.5 billion euros under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Innovation and Growth in resignation Tomislav Donchev in the show on bTV.
In response to a question whether the current parliament will have time to adopt all the necessary changes in the country's laws, in order not to lose the fourth and fifth payment under the NRRP worth 2.5 billion euros, Donchev stated that this goal should be pursued because it is achievable. According to him, these two payments are related to changes in 8 laws, 2 of which have already been voted on by the National Assembly, 4 are being considered in the parliamentary committees, and two are at the level of the Council of Ministers, and all texts have been drafted and agreed with the European Commission.
"For me, the (National Assembly, editor's note) should follow the ambitious goal of adopting all of them. It seems possible to me. These are not laws that would cause any social or political contradictions. Rather, we should consider whether to follow the usual procedure whether they should come to the National Assembly from the Council of Ministers, which is the longest and most transparent procedure, or to try to be an initiative of Members of Parliament, which would significantly shorten the time of their adoption,“ Donchev said, adding that in almost 100 percent of the texts, there should be no reason for contradictions, emphasizing again that it is a matter of several laws, and not a large amount of necessary changes.
Donchev recalled that so far Bulgaria has received payments under the NRRP totaling about 4 billion euros.
According to Donchev, this government will be remembered on the one hand with the full integration of Bulgaria into all European institutions with the accession to the Schengen area and membership in the Eurozone, but on the other hand with the fact that it was overthrown with numerous protests.
He stated that the government has done "good things", pointing out that it finished 2025 with not bad economic results, among which one of the highest growth rates in Europe, record investments and saved payments under the NRRP.
Donchev emphasized that investments from the state budget and NRRP for 2025 amount to 24 billion leva or almost 12 billion euros.
Regarding the inspections of the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) regarding the signals for increased electricity bills of household consumers, Donchev expressed hope that they will be completed as soon as possible, emphasizing that "EWRC is an independent institution and the inspections are within its competence".
Regarding electricity for business, the deputy prime minister in resignation cited expert assessments, according to which poor connectivity in Eastern Europe is part of the reasons why prices are higher compared to those in Western Europe.
Asked for his opinion regarding the calls of the BSP that the parliament should adopt the withdrawn draft of the State Budget Act for 2026, Donchev pointed out that voting on the budget proposed at the end of last year has technical logic, but from a political point of view this cannot happen.
According to him, in a pre-election situation, a possible debate on the vote on the budget can turn into a competition for left-wing populism.
He expressed the opinion that the possibility of whether the term of the current extension budget should be extended or whether there is a need to add additional texts in it should be considered.
Regarding the case of "Petrohan", Donchev pointed out that it is not right for the case to be politicized.
Regarding the changes in the electoral code, the deputy prime minister in resignation said that GERB has no circumstantial political interest in these changes.
Regarding the upcoming first meeting of the Peace Council, scheduled for February 19 in Washington, Donchev stated that by that date, in view of the upcoming inauguration of the caretaker government, he does not see a way for the Bulgarian government to have a representative at this meeting.