NEWS

Bulgaria Will Host a Forum Dedicated to the Prospects for Developing a European Defense and Space Sector

The EU member-states should pool efforts to facilitate the access of SMEs to the common market, which will also make it possible to deepen the  process of European integration. This was the common position shared by President Rumen Radev and El?bieta Bie?kowska, EU Commissioner for Internal market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, who met at 2 Dondukov street today. At the meeting the Bulgarian President emphasized that the EU should seek to strengthen the integration between the individual regions so as to avoid making it possible for the differences in the economic development to confirm the functioning of a “two-speed Europe.”

Both Rumen Radev and El?bieta Bie?kowska highlighted the importance of strengthening the cooperation between the EU member-states in the sphere of information technologies, defense and space exploration. EU Commissioner Bie?kowska suggested considering establishing an EU fund worth 500 million leva, which will finance the common research and development activity in these spheres. “Information technologies and space exploration is the most rapidly developing sector and the EU should provide adequate financing of the European SMEs and the startups in this sector,” El?bieta Bie?kowska said.

EU Commissioner Bie?kowska supported President Radev's idea that in 2017 Bulgaria should host a forum dedicated to the European defense and space sector where Bulgarian companies and scientific institutes will learn more about the European Defense Fund and about other existing mechanisms of the EU defense and space industry. EU Commissioner Bie?kowska voiced her readiness to personally participate in the forum. “The East-European states have their traditions in space exploration, defense industry and information technologies, which we can further continue today,” President Radev said at the meeting.

At the meeting the Bulgarian President reiterated Bulgaria’s support for the introduction of a European Services E-Card, which will minimize the bureaucratic formalities the SMEs are facing and will facilitate their access to the common market. The Bulgarian Head of State further said that the EU should provide stronger support to all underdeveloped EU countries in so that they can fully participate in the implementation of investments projects within the framework of the Juncker Investment Plan.