site.btaRumen Radev Proposes Term "Industrial Cohesion" to Antonio Costa for Equal Technological and Industrial Development across EU

EU competitiveness and cohesion policy were among the topics discussed between Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev and European Council President Antonio Costa in Sofia on Thursday. Costa has been touring EU capitals for talks on the bloc's budget in the period 2028-2034.

"We discussed with President Costa how to ensure that the drive for greater competitiveness can be properly distributed over the years, that all member states have equal access to the large cohesion fund and equal access to the important instruments that will drive this fund, so that less developed countries do not fall behind in their technological and industrial development," Radev told a media briefing after his meeting with Costa.

The prime minister added that he proposed to Costa that consideration be given to introducing a new term: industrial cohesion. "Rather than speaking only of cohesion, as has traditionally been the case with cohesion programmes focused on social policies and infrastructure, this would be cohesion that gives all member states the opportunity to participate in principle and on an equal footing in Europe's technological and industrial development," Radev explained.

The two also discussed issues related to the EU's multiannual financial framework and the European Union's enlargement. Radev told the media: "We also discussed ensuring Europe's security in these challenging times, European technological sovereignty and the rapid spread of artificial intelligence into all areas of social and economic life."