The International Monetary Fund (IMF) believes that Bulgaria can benefit fully from the opportunities stemming from the country’s EU membership.

On June 6 Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev met IMF’s first deputy managing director John Lipsky.

Lipsky said that Bulgaria should continue working for labour market flexibility and education and healthcare reforms.

Stanishev said that the co-operation between Bulgaria and the IMF was a bridge that aided the country become EU member.

The visit coincided with the successful end of the partnership between Bulgaria and the IMF. On April 24 the country paid in advance its entire debt to the fund.

Stanishev thanked the IMF management for the co-operation, saying that it helped Bulgaria restore its financial stability and economic growth.

IMF would continue aiding Bulgaria, Lipsky said. Bulgaria already had stable macroeconomic environment, economic growth and decreasing inflation, he said.