Topical issues on the European Agenda discussed at a meeting with Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Mariyana Nikolova

The President of BCCI Tsvetan Simeonov and Arnaldo Abruzzini, CEO of the Association of the European Chambers of Commerce and Industry “EUROCHAMBRES” met with the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic and Demographic Policy Mariyana Nikolova. Arnaldo Abruzzini visited Sofia at the invitation of BCCI.

Among the discussed topics were the challenges facing Europe in securing workforce, as well as maintaining a favourable business environment, because companies that work according to the law are the engine of public prosperity.

Abruzzini said that EU actions on the global economic scene should aim to create an open, fair, inclusive and predictable international business environment. Multilateralism and securing an ambitious WTO reform are also among the priorities of the European Union. According to a position of EUROCHAMBRES, the European way for globalization must take into account the volatile international environment, and the continued success of EU trade policy depends on its implementation at national level. The Association of the European Chambers of Commerce and Industry believes that the European brand must be constantly upheld and strengthened on the global stage. According to Abruzzini, progress in this direction is unthinkable without the support of the governments and the business organizations, including the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which is a good interpreter and implementer of these goals.

Deputy Prime Minister Mariyana Nikolova was presented with a position-paper of EUROCHAMBRES, supported by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, on the most important priorities of the new European Commission and Parliament. Tsvetan Simeonov said that this position-paper is a good guide for the new term of the European institutions, because these are balanced proposals on the most important issues of the European economy.

Mariyana Nikolova emphasized the importance of cooperation in the framework of the tripartite dialogue and the role of the government in maintaining the balance of interests.

Among the topics discussed was the transparency of bank payments as a key tool for dealing with the informal economy and tracking suspicious transactions.