site.btaFuture of Cohesion Policy in Focus at Green Transition Forum

The future of cohesion policy in the context of the new challenges facing Europe was the focus of a discussion at Green Transition Forum 6.0 on Thursday.

In a video address to the participants, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Raffaele Fitto said cohesion policy must adapt and modernize to reflect geopolitical developments, security concerns and the need for critical technologies. He added that work was already underway to make the policy more flexible and simpler.

Fitto stressed that the policy should remain focused on long-term objectives and serve as a strategic catalyst. He said its purpose extended beyond economic indicators to ensuring that people can remain in their communities rather than leaving because of a lack of opportunities. 

The goal is to provide young people with opportunities to stay by investing in quality jobs, connectivity, initiatives and public services, Fitto said. He added that the experience of local and regional authorities, universities and civil society was essential for identifying effective solutions.

Regional Development and Public Works Minister Ivan Shishkov told the forum that Bulgaria remains significantly behind in the development of transport infrastructure and had entered the Schengen area unprepared. He stressed the need for urgent measures and said the government was ready to act.

The minister said north-south transport links, which are important not only for Bulgaria but for the wider region, remained underdeveloped due to a lack of project readiness. He added that the government would seek to demonstrate within the next year and a half that the country was prepared to address the issue.

Shishkov said Bulgaria would rely on support from its European partners for the development of these routes and other key transport corridors. He stressed the importance of those corridors, as well as the Black Sea Motorway linking the ports of Burgas and Varna, for both Europe and Bulgaria's regions, given growing economic disparities and changing geopolitical realities.

Thursday marked the fourth day of Green Transition Forum 6.0 at the Sofia Event Center. Discussions focused on cohesion policy, EU regions, sustainable cities, water resilience, the blue economy and innovation in agriculture. 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.