04.12.2023
The conclusion of the negotiations on the EU anti-money laundry package is a priority for Bulgaria and the country works actively with the European Commission on that. This was announced after the meeting of Prime Minister Acad. Nikolai Denkov with Mairead McGuinness, European Commissioner for financial services, financial stability and Capital Markets Union. The discussion was attended by Finance Minister Assen Vassilev and Energy Minister Rumen Radev. A number of issues were discussed at the meeting ranging from the implementation of sanctions against Russia, Bulgaria’s accession to Schengen and to the financing of the transition to green energy.
“We work in partnership with the Commission so that we may be even more helpful in the prevention of financial abuses,” Prime Minister Acad. Nikolai Denkov pointed out for journalists after the meeting. The Prime Minister noted that Bulgaria actively contributes to pan-European efforts to parry any possibility of circumvention of the sanctions.
Finance Minister Assen Vassilev underscored the increasing import and export of dual-use goods across the Bulgarian-Turkish border, the final destination being Russia. “We have started active work with the Commission so as to identify the companies, identify the routes and intercept them. That will be the main focus of our work together with the Commission at Kapitan Andreevo border-crossing checkpoint which is one of the busiest land borders in the world,” Minister Assen Vassilev said. Tomorrow he and Mrs. McGuinness will visit the location and the European Commissioner will personally see how customs formalities are handled. Minister Assen Vassilev recalled that various initiatives are in place to fortify the border, including the opening of a second checkpoint in addition to the existing one and that an allocation is planned in next year’s budget to that effect.
The agenda of the meeting included, inter alia, the promotion of the Capital Markets Union and the development of the financial services sector in Bulgaria, including the fin-tech sector.
