site.btaBulgaria Strengthens Its Role as Active Participant in Regional Cooperation, Economy Minister Says

Addressing the Vienna Economic Forum at the Boyana Residence in Sofia on Monday, Bulgaria's caretaker Economy Minister Petko Nikolov said that Bulgaria has consolidated and continues to strengthen its role as an active participant in regional cooperation and its position as a key factor for stability and security in the Western Balkans. Nikolov stressed that Eastern Europe offers a number of opportunities for economic growth and is convinced that Bulgaria will be at the heart of this region's development.

According to the Minister, every country should make efforts to ensure European autonomy. In this regard, Bulgaria underlines the important role of an effective EU industrial policy aimed at stimulating important competitive industries to strengthen Europe's industrial base and secure strategic and important supply chains.

The aim is to reduce the EU's dependence on third countries for energy, raw materials, equipment, key technologies, digital products, food, as well as to create an opportunity to diversify the markets the EU trades with, Nikolov said.

Bulgaria's full accession to the Schengen area will increase the economic security of all countries in the region. Any postponement of this full membership will also cause greater lost benefits not only for Bulgaria and Romania, but for the other economies in the region, as well, he emphasized.

Nikolov stressed that Bulgaria supports the EU accession of all countries from the Western Balkans region and encourages the development of joint initiatives that would create more opportunities for citizens and businesses in this region.