(1)

On 7 August 2020, Bulgaria requested financial assistance from the Union with a view to complementing its national efforts to address the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and respond to the socioeconomic consequences of the outbreak for workers and the self-employed.

(2)

The COVID-19 outbreak and the extraordinary measures implemented by Bulgaria to contain the outbreak and its socioeconomic and health-related impact are expected to have a dramatic impact on public finances. According to the Commission’s 2020 Spring forecast, Bulgaria was expected to have a general government deficit and debt of 2,8 % and 25,5 % of gross domestic product (GDP) respectively by the end of 2020. According to the Commission’s 2020 Summer interim forecast, Bulgaria’s GDP is projected to decrease by 7,1 % in 2020.

(3)

The COVID-19 outbreak has immobilised a substantial part of the labour force in Bulgaria. This has led to a sudden and severe increase in public expenditure in Bulgaria in respect of two wage subsidy measures, as set out in recitals (4) and (5).

(4)

More specifically, ‘Decree No 55 of 30 March 2020 of the Council of Ministers’ (2), which is referred to in Bulgaria’s request of 7 August 2020, introduced a measure that provides wage subsidies to undertakings, which, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, have voluntarily or by law reduced or stopped their activity. The employment of employees is required to be maintained during participation in the measure and for an equal period afterwards. The monthly wage subsidy to the eligible undertakings amounts to 60 % of the monthly gross salary (including employers’ social security contributions) of the benefitting employees.

(5)

Furthermore, ‘Decree No 151 of 3 July 2020 of the Council of Ministers’ (3), which is referred to in Bulgaria’s request of 7 August 2020, introduced a measure that provides wage subsidies to undertakings, which, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, have suffered a revenue reduction of at least 20 %. The employment of employees is required to be maintained during participation in the measure and for an equal period afterwards. The monthly wage subsidy to the eligible undertakings amounts to 60 % of the monthly gross salary (including employers’ social security contributions) of the benefitting employees.

(6)

Bulgaria fulfils the conditions for requesting financial assistance set out in Article 3 of Regulation (EU) 2020/672. Bulgaria has provided the Commission with appropriate evidence that the actual and planned public expenditure has increased by EUR 511 000 000 as of 1 February 2020 due to the national measures taken to address the socioeconomic effects of the COVID-19 outbreak. This constitutes a sudden and severe increase because the new measures cover or are intended to cover a significant proportion of undertakings and of the labour force in Bulgaria.

(7)

The Commission has consulted Bulgaria and verified the sudden and severe increase in the actual and planned public expenditure directly related to short-time work schemes and similar measures referred to in the request of 7 August 2020, in accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EU) 2020/672.

(8)

Financial assistance should therefore be provided with a view to helping Bulgaria to address the socioeconomic effects of the severe economic disturbance caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. The Commission should take the decisions concerning maturities, size and release of instalments and tranches in close cooperation with national authorities.

(9)

This Decision should be without prejudice to the outcome of any procedures relating to distortions of the operation of the internal market that may be undertaken, in particular under Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty. It does not override the requirement for Member States to notify instances of potential State aid to the Commission under Article 108 of the Treaty.

(10)

Bulgaria should inform the Commission on a regular basis of the implementation of the planned public expenditure, in order to enable the Commission to assess the extent to which Bulgaria has implemented that expenditure.

(11)

The decision to provide financial assistance has been reached taking into account existing and expected needs of Bulgaria, as well as requests for financial assistance pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2020/672 already submitted or planned to be submitted by other Member States, while applying the principles of equal treatment, solidarity, proportionality and transparency,

(a)

wage subsidies to undertakings as provided for in ‘Decree No 55 of 30 March 2020 of the Council of Ministers’;

(b)

wage subsidies to undertakings as provided for in ‘Decree No 151 of 3 July 2020 of the Council of Ministers’.