Kristian Vigenin: The BSP is a European party, we have never been against joining the eurozone

„The BSP is the party that has a very substantial contribution to Bulgaria being part of the European Union. A socialist prime minister submitted the membership application in 1995. A socialist president signed the treaty, and a socialist prime minister took the country into the European Union. We are a European party, we have never had a position against joining the euro. We continue to be of the opinion that Bulgaria’s accession to the eurozone is positive for the country.“ This was stated on BNT by the head of the Delegation of the Bulgarian Socialists in the European Parliament and member of the Executive Bureau of the BSP Kristian Vigenin. He clarified that joining the eurozone has no direct connection with how relations between the European Union and Russia, and respectively between Bulgaria and Russia, will develop.

The euro referendum

On the topic of the referendum on introducing the euro proposed by the president, Kristian Vigenin said: „We believe that the question, put in this way, does not comply with the constitutional norm and with the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the previous referendum request. Because of this we would not support it. It is not about liking the question – The Constitutional Court has ruled quite clearly– on whether there can be a referendum on the eurozone topic”.

“If someone wants to stop the entry into the eurozone, if they want something more specific to be done, the way is not a referendum. Radev gave explanations that he does not want to stop Bulgaria’s entry into the eurozone. That is probably so. But we are still quite far along in this process, and such a sharp framing of the topic can send political signals that could affect the convergence report”, the MEP and member of the Executive Bureau of the BSP warned. He recalled thatif there is political instability, that is not a good sign on Bulgaria’s path to the eurozone and it could be an obstacle at the last moment.

“The BSP has never promised a referendum in this direction. We have always said that we support joining the eurozone, when Bulgaria is ready”, Vigenin stressed, and added that clearer information is needed for people– what the eurozone is and what lies ahead in the coming months. In his view peoplecome first and must be certain about the measures the government will take, in order to guarantee in advance that speculation in prices will not be allowed and that incomes will be protected.

Kristian Vigenin finds the intentions of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to block all contracts for energy supplies from Russia, including for uranium, to be wrong. „If the conflict stops this year, what is the problem with returning to more normal relations with Russia? We do insist that the two nuclear reactors that remain in Bulgaria find their application, so the normal position would be to support actions that guarantee we will be able to carry out the Belene NPP project“, the MEP commented.