Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Investments and Industry Alexander Poulev was part of the official Bulgarian delegation during Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s visit to Paris on 27 May.
The delegation also included Deputy Prime Ministers Ivo Hristov and Atanas Pekanov, Minister of Foreign Affairs Velislava Petrova, and Minister of Defence Dimitar Stoyanov.
The Bulgarian delegation held a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, during which the parties discussed the future of the European economy, energy policy, and cooperation in the fields of defence and security.
During the discussions, it was emphasised that Bulgaria and France share a common understanding of the need for Europe to restore its competitiveness through a strong industrial base, technological advancement, energy independence, and investment in its own strategic capabilities.
Particular attention was given to the role of nuclear energy as a key element in ensuring Europe’s energy security and independence – a position that both countries have consistently supported.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Investments and Industry Poulev was part of the official delegation led by Prime Minister Radev during its meeting with French President.
During the meeting, the participants also discussed specific opportunities for deepening industrial and technological cooperation between Bulgaria and France in the fields of energy, innovation, artificial intelligence, and the space industry.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Investments and Industry Poulev underlined that Bulgaria is already establishing itself as a regional technology hub in the fields of AI and high-performance computing through the development of INSAIT, its supercomputing infrastructure, and projects for data centres and artificial intelligence facilities of European significance.
“It is precisely partnerships and investments of this kind that will determine Europe’s place in the global economy in the decades ahead,” he stressed.
The Deputy Prime Minister further noted that Bulgaria has the potential to be not a peripheral player, but an active participant in Europe’s emerging industrial and technological landscape.
It should be recalled that since the beginning of the Government’s term in office, Minister Poulev has taken part in official delegations led by Prime Minister Rumen Radev during meetings with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and President of the European Council Antonio Costa.