site.btaDeputy PM Pekanov: Cohesion Policy Must Remain at the Heart of Future EU Budget

Cohesion policy must remain at the heart of the future EU budget, and we will fight against any reduction in its funding, Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Pekanov said during a panel discussion on the third day of Green Transition Forum 6.0, dedicated to the European Commission's proposal for the EU's next long-term budget for 2028-2034.

The proposal, presented by the European Commission in July 2025, envisages a budget of nearly EUR 2 trillion.

The forum is organized by Dir.bg in cooperation with the Bulgarian-Greek Chamber of Commerce and Industry. BTA is among the event's media partners.

Pekanov said Bulgaria's position in the upcoming budget negotiations will be that cohesion policy is one of the EU's traditional policies.

"This is the policy that supports regions and convergence. In Bulgaria, we know of specific projects financed through cohesion policy that have generated significant added value," he said.

Pekanov noted that the proposal for the next EU budget envisages a reduction in cohesion spending in one form or another, which Bulgaria does not consider appropriate.

He recalled that Bulgaria is part of the Friends of Cohesion alliance, which brings together 16 countries that support preserving the key role of cohesion policy.

According to Pekanov, cohesion policy is a well-established EU policy that European citizens recognize and one that benefits all Member States, including those that may have reservations about it.

Referring to the long-running debate over which countries contribute to and benefit from the EU budget, Pekanov said that while the discussion may appear valid from an accounting perspective, funds received by net beneficiary countries such as Bulgaria often result in contracts being awarded to leading companies from across Europe.

"Bulgarian citizens receive high-quality projects and services, while competitive European companies are able to deliver them," he said.

He added that this creates added value for European industry and benefits not only recipient countries but also those with the most competitive companies. He pointed to major infrastructure projects implemented through partnerships involving companies from different countries.

Pekanov said the coming months will bring important discussions on the proposed budget and stressed that Bulgaria will be a highly active participant in those negotiations.