President Rumen Radev met with European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education, and Youth Iliana Ivanova in Sofia to discuss Bulgaria's priorities for innovation and investment in high technology, the President’s press centre said here on Thursday.
Radev congratulated Ivanova on her appointment, highlighting her position in the European Commission as strategically important for Bulgaria because it is related to promising areas for Bulgaria such as innovation and research, as well as the development of young people and their education. The head of State confirmed the support of the presidential institution for the policies contributing to the modernization, especially in terms of the development and application of scientific innovative achievements in the Bulgarian economy.
The President stated that the efforts of the last caretaker government achieved increased investment interest and significant growth in the number of projects submitted under the Recovery and Resilience Plan and highlighted the good awareness of the business community after numerous consultations and information meetings in every region of the country.
Radev and Ivanova’s common position was that Bulgaria should continue to work to facilitate the accessibility of European Union programmes to support innovative companies in the country, the press centre added.
The demographic problem, due to the high levels of emigration of young people from Bulgaria, was also discussed during the meeting. The need to introduce measures to attract and retain young people in Bulgaria by creating more opportunities for professional development was highlighted.
This is Ivanova's first official visit to this country after taking office as EC Commissioner. Earlier on Thursday, she met with Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov and is scheduled to meet with National Assembly Chair Rosen Zhelyazkov, Education Minister Galin Tzokov, Culture Minister Krastyu Krastev, and Innovation and Growth Minister Milena Stoycheva, the EC Representative Office in Bulgaria said. Ivanova will hold discussions with GERB leader and Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Boyko Borissov.
/RY/
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