In ten years' time Bulgaria will be a country where everyone will want to live, study and stay, Finance Minister Simeon Djankov said Tuesday. He took part in a meeting of the Council for Public Consultations with the European Affairs and Control of EU Funds Committee in Parliament which discussed the Europe 2020 strategy of the EU.

Djankov set forth Bulgaria's priorities over the next ten years in the light of the strategy. Bulgaria's goals in the next ten years will be better infrastructure, more competitive youth, the best business climate in the EU, trust in the state

institutions, Djankov said.

Parliament Chairperson Tsetska Tsacheva said that Bulgaria's position vis-a-vis the strategy will be ready within a month and a half.

Being the country with the lowest tax burden in the EU, Bulgaria should become the most attractive location business-wise in Europe, Djankov said. To achieve this, in the next ten years the country will attract more investment and achieve an employment level of 76 per cent of people between 20 and 64 years. The Europe 2020 strategy sets the target at 75 per cent.

Youth with university degrees should increase from 31 per cent to 36 per cent after ten years. The respective target in Europe 2020 is 40 per cent.

Djankov once again urged for prevention of early school drop outs. He said that the aim is to reduce their number to 11 per cent in ten years' time.

Incentives should be provided to young scholars so that Bulgaria have a more competitive youth, Djankov said.

Source: BTA