Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Investments and Industry Alexander Poulev was part of the official delegation on 28 May during Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s visit to Brussels, Kingdom of Belgium.
The visit took place at the invitation of Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever.
The Bulgarian delegation also included Deputy Prime Ministers Ivo Hristov and Atanas Pekanov, as well as Minister of Foreign Affairs Velislava Petrova and Minister of Defence Dimitar Stoyanov.
During the visit, meetings were held with the Prime Minister of Belgium, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and President of the European Council Antonio Costa.
The main topics discussed included the future of a fair European budget, the continuation of EU cohesion policy and the Common Agricultural Policy, defence expenditure, the instruments available under the SAFE mechanism, and the implementation of Bulgaria’s commitments as a NATO member. Discussions also addressed the completion of the Recovery and Resilience Plan, under which Bulgaria is finalising a number of reforms and investment projects this year and expects corresponding payments.
Particular emphasis was placed on the Competitiveness Fund. Bulgaria expressed the view that its resources should be allocated in a manner that does not deepen economic disparities between Member States and that countries such as Bulgaria should be enabled to participate in major European industrial projects as part of the broader effort to reduce industrial development gaps across the Union. Investment conditions, innovation, digital transformation and artificial intelligence, as well as the rule of law and Bulgaria’s transition towards a high-value-added, high-technology economy, were also among the key themes of the discussions.
The Bulgarian delegation also visited the Belgian high-tech research centre IMEC in Leuven, a global leader in microelectronics, semiconductors and deep-tech innovation, employing more than 6,600 people. Discussions focused on the potential for a long-term partnership with the Belgian technology centre, which already maintains cooperation with a Bulgarian microelectronics competence centre funded under the European Chips Act and the Chips Joint Undertaking.
Minister Poulev emphasised that partnerships of this kind are of strategic importance to Bulgaria, contributing to the country’s integration into the European semiconductor value chain, providing access to know-how, pilot lines and innovation networks, supporting the development of the start-up ecosystem, and facilitating the attraction of additional high-technology investments.
“Such a policy positions Bulgaria as a regional hub for microelectronics,” Poulev stated, adding that further benefits include strengthening Bulgaria’s position within the framework of the EU Chips Act and increasing confidence in the Bulgarian innovation ecosystem.
It should be recalled that since the beginning of the Government’s term in office, Minister Poulev has participated in delegations led by Prime Minister Rumen Radev during meetings with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron.