News

The Council today authorised the Commission to open trade negotiations with Australia and New Zealand and adopted negotiating directives for each of the negotiations. “Today’s decision to open trade talks with Australia and New Zealand sends a strong signal to both countries that we value our partnerships with them and want to strengthen our existing ties. But it is also a reminder to the world of the EU’s commitment to openness, free trade and global cooperation”, Emil Karanikolov, minister of economy of Bulgaria, which currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU

The Bulgarian Presidency today steered a debate among EU member states about what the next EU industrial policy strategy should look like. Following the discussion, chaired by the Bulgarian Minister for the Economy, Emil Karanikolov, in his role as President of the Competitiveness Council, the Council called for urgent action to establish a long-term strategy for European industry to boost competitiveness, growth and innovation in Europe.

Minister of Economy Emil Karanikolov will open a seminar on “Space Balkans” – Space services for regional strategies in the digital economy: Balkan and Black Sea Perspectives.” The event is organized by the European Space Agency jointly with the Ministry of Economy and is under the auspices of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

A major challenge for Europe is creating conditions, enabling more entrepreneurs, as they create new businesses, create new jobs, develop new skills and markets. Minister of Economy Emil Karanikolov announced at the launch of Youth Entrepreneurship Conference “Follow Your Ideas – Become an Entrepreneur”, realized with the support of the Ministry of Economy and the Directorate General for Growth with the European Commission.

The prospects of the multilateral trading system and the options for a better functioning of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) were discussed at an informal meeting of the EU ministers responsible for trade. The trade ministers agreed that the EU should play a leading role in the WTO by upholding an open, rule-based multilateral trading system and opposing all attempts to undermine it.

EU Ministers of Economy opened a political discussion on the future of industrial policy in Europe, with the aim of preparing a comprehensive and long-term EU industrial strategy with a horizon of 2030. The Ministers met in Sofia on 1 February 2018 in the framework of the informal meeting on Competitiveness.

An informal meeting of EU ministers responsible for trade, under the chairmanship of the Minister of Economy Mr. Emil Karanikolov will be held on 27 February 2018 in Sofia. The European Commission will be represented by the Commissioner for Trade Ms. Cecilia Malmström.

The Common Industrial Policy Strategy should support the intensive introduction of innovation in production, industrial digitalization, job creation and improved access to financing for enterprises.

Minister of Economy Emil Karanikolov presented before the Committee on International Trade /INTA/ of the European Parliament in Brussels the priorities of the Bulgarian Presidency in the field of the common commercial policy.

The informal meeting of the Ministers, responsible for the competitiveness in the Industrial field, chaired by Economy Minister Emil Karanikolov will start with a plenary session at 9.30 am on February 1, 2018 at the National Palace of Culture, Sofia, Bulgaria.