BCCI Euroclub meeting at the beginning of Belgium’s Presidency of the Council of the EU

Euroclub’s regular gathering, held in the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was assigned to Belgian EU Council Presidency in the next six months.

Economic security will be a predominant topic on EU’s agenda this year, the chairperson of "Euroclub" Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) prof. Ingrid Shikova said at the opening of the meeting. She shared her opinion on geopolitics, relations with China and the USA and the EU enlargement process as issues of primary importance to the Community.

The event was officially attended by Mrs Jaione CEREIJO, Deputy Head of the Mission of the Embassy of Spain in Bulgaria, whose country presided the Council in the second half of 2023, and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium in Bulgaria H.E. Frederic Morris. Another distinguished participant in the meeting was Mrs Radka Balabanova, Director of "Foreign Economic Relations and Development Cooperation" Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Prof. Shikova communicated that next week the EC would present a document called "The European Economic Security Package" which included a number of regulations of utmost importance for Europe. They take notice of the foreign investment monitoring process, export control, dual-use innovations and research, economic security upturn.

" All these documents are very important for Bulgaria and for the Bulgarian business. That's why we should be very active in the discussions and why not organize a special meeting on the subject in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry ", Prof. Shikova offered.

The Deputy Head of the Mission of the Embassy of Spain in Bulgaria Mrs Jaione CEREIJO assessed as constructive and successful Spain's activities during the Presidency in the second half of 2023 and said the country got very well through its fifth rotating presidency.

Ambassador Jaione CEREIJO recalled some of the priorities of the Spanish Presidency such as the Strategic autonomy approach, energy and climate, the consolidation of European values, economic recovery and social protection.

Speaking of European values, Ambassador CEREIJO underlined that the aim was to consolidate the supremacy of law as the basis of democracy in Europe and the strengthening of freedom, security and justice.

The Ambassador accentuated on the positive results from the support provided to Ukraine and the start of EU membership negotiations. Further, 2023 EU enlargement package was also approved, granting the status of a candidate country to Georgia and opening prospects before Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Mrs Jaione CEREIJO dwelled on the major diplomatic breakthrough in the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to Schengen following the lifting of veto by the Netherlands and Austria's loosened stance.

Commenting on economic recovery priorities, the deputy head of the Spanish mission in Bulgaria said these included the review of the 2021-2027 financial framework, the economic management framework, the critical raw materials regulations, the reform of the European regulations on state aid for industry.

In the field of social protection and health care Spain had focused its attention to the principle of equality, inclusion and opportunities for adolescents, Ambassador CEREIJO said.

The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium in Bulgaria H.E. Frederic Morris presented the priorities of the EU Council Presidency  of his country, which will be presiding the organization for the 13th time. Ambassador Morris introduced the main objectives of the "trio", consisting currently of Belgium, Spain and Hungary. The objectives include open strategic autonomy, economic sustainability, green and digital transition, supremacy of law, fight against organized crime, reduction of all forms of intolerance, protection of human rights under international law, support for Ukraine and its recovery, continuation of EU enlargement, a look ahead at the Future of Europe and the next Strategic Program.

Belgium has decided to follow three main guidelines during its presidency:

• Ensuring the security and well-being of the European citizens, including securing the borders, protecting the democracy and the supremacy of law, strengthening the social and health agenda, European unity and support for Ukraine.
• Increasing EU's competitiveness at global level with a view of the green, digital and fair economic transition.
• Paving the path ahead for change, the reform of the EU, its policies, budgets and institutions with regard to the future enlargement.

The new 2024 will be pivotal for Bulgaria in its accession to full membership in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Our aim is to keep up the pace by getting as many OECD committee assessments as possible, Radka Balabanova, director of the Foreign Economic Relations and Development Cooperation Directorate at the MFA said.

The BCCI Euroclub continues to be a valuable tool, the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tsvetan Simeonov, concluded, by supporting and informing our society about topical issues on the agenda of the European Union. He pointed out that the achievements were really remarkable and far-reaching, especially Bulgaria and Romania’s accession to Schengen by air and water. "We are well-aware there are still more steps to take together and will be following the Belgian Presidency in close contact with our partners from the Embassy in Sofia," he said.