Ministry on Disaster Management would be the biggest gainer in Bulgaria’s budget for 2008, since its money would be raised by around 40 per cent from this year’s 152 million leva to 214 million leva, the draft budget for next year showed, as quoted by Sega daily on October 30.

The largest part of the money, or 157 million leva, would be spent by the State Agency State Reserve and War-time Stocks, which buys foods, fuels, chemicals, timber, metals, spare parts, medicines and other commodities to fill its warehouses for times of crises or disasters.

Most of the sectors would not see such a considerable growth in their budgets for 2008. The healthcare sector would get 2.57 billion leva, or just 16 per cent more, compared to 2007. The money to be spent on education would be by 22 per cent more.

The Defence Ministry would have another increase in its budget next year, by 11 per cent, from the current one billion leva to 1.11 billion leva. In addition to this, military spending would have another 90 million leva for Bulgarian participation in international operations and missions. Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry would get a minimum increase, from 984 million leva to 997 million leva, or a mere 0.01 per cent, Sega said.

Only 20 million out of the needed 60 million leva were planned for next year for building and introduction of the single European emergency line 112. Bulgaria has been threatened by the European Commission that sanctions would be imposed on the country if the system was not introduced soon.