Prime minister Rumen Radev told reporters the government will defend its social programme in the budget, including higher pensions and maternity benefits, whatever the European Commission recommends.

The cabinet wants to protect incomes and spend more on education, health, culture and sport. The commission has made recommendations on the budget, but the government disagrees with them on social spending.

"We are continuing these very hard talks with the commission," Radev said. He said the talks are moving fast.

The government will send the budget to parliament as soon as the talks end. "When we are ready, and I hope we will hold our ground on our views of the budget, we will of course submit it straight away," the prime minister added.

Before making these remarks, Radev met Daniel Panov, mayor of Veliko Tarnovo and chair of the managing board of the National Association of Municipalities in Bulgaria.