Bulgaria’s deteriorating fiscal outlook has drawn the attention of the international financial press, with the Financial Times reporting that the country is expected to face an excessive deficit procedure from the European Union as early as next week.
The newspaper notes that the move would come only months after Bulgaria joined the eurozone, highlighting concerns over the country’s public finances. According to projections cited in the report, Bulgaria’s budget deficit is expected to reach 4.1% of GDP, before rising further to 4.3% in 2027.
The figures are based on forecasts by the European Commission, which is set to publish its latest assessment in the coming days. The expected procedure would place Bulgaria under closer fiscal scrutiny as Brussels seeks to enforce compliance with the EU’s budgetary rules.
The Financial Times also points out that Bulgaria is not alone in facing such challenges. A total of ten other EU member states are also expected to fall under procedures linked to breaches of the bloc’s fiscal requirements. Among them are Italy, Romania, and Finland.
At the same time, the report highlights Malta as an example of improvement. The country, which had previously been under monitoring, succeeded in lowering its budget deficit to 2.2%, bringing it back within the limits set by EU rules.
