KNSB labour union said that the draft budget 2007 disregarded all items on which union representatives and the government agreed in the pact for economic and social development until 2009.

Bulgaria's first budget as European member state fails adequately increasing income to meet EU standards, various labour unions said in a statement quoted by Bulgarian news agency BTA.

Authorities also failed explaining why the budget for education would remain 4.2 per cent of the GDP and the healthcare budget would decrease from 4.4 to 4.3 per cent.

These two areas were priority for all Bulgarians but at the same time the government refused fulfilling its earlier promises of increased funding for both, the unions statement said.

KNSB representatives said that all effort put into the creation of the development pact was worthless as it was not used as guide for the drafting of budget 2007.