The social programme, pension increases and higher maternity benefits will stay in Bulgaria's 2027 budget, whatever the European Commission recommends, prime minister Rumen Radev told reporters.

The cabinet is also firmly set on protecting incomes, he said. The government wants to spend more on education, health care, culture and sport.

Talks with the Commission are intense. "We are continuing these very hard talks with the Commission. When we are ready, and I hope we will stand by our views on the budget, we will of course submit it at once," Radev said.

The prime minister spoke before a meeting with Daniel Panov, mayor of Veliko Tarnovo and chair of the management board of the National Association of Municipalities in Bulgaria.