Representatives of the managements of the organizations - members of the Association of the Organizations of Bulgarian Employers (AOBE) - BICA, BIA, BCCI and KRIB, held a meeting with the Prime Minister Acad. Nikolay Denkov and Deputy Prime Minister Maria Gabriel.
During the meeting, the priorities of the AOBE were discussed, with emphasis on taking all the necessary measures to comply with the commitment to join Bulgaria to the Eurozone, accepting the country into the Schengen area and the OECD.
Tsvetan Simeonov, chairman of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and chairman of the AOBE for 2023, emphasized the need to preserve the existing tax model in Bulgaria. He defined it as important to take real actions to build e-government in all areas, as an appropriate measure in the fight against corruption. The chairman of the BCCI emphasized the need to ease the procedures for importing workers into the country and to take measures to promote their sustainable employment in Bulgaria. Simeonov pointed out that environmental protection measures should not hinder the investment process.
Vasil Velev, chairman of BICA, shared that social assistance should not be provided through the country's tax system. The main function of the tax system is revenue collection, he also noted. The distribution of income in the form of welfare benefits should be income and means tested to those in need, not as support for all. "The lack of targeted support for citizens has cost BGN 5 billion to the budget so far," emphasized Velev. The chairman of BICA also emphasized the need to preserve the existing compensation mechanism for high electricity prices.
Dobri Mitrev, president of BIA, emphasizes the economic stability in the country, which is a prerequisite for political stability. He pointed out that an improved economic environment will be a major factor for Bulgaria's prosperity. The president of BIA also emphasized some of the problems: the existence of nearly 900 regulatory regimes, the way in which the fee for household waste is formed and the need to apply the "polluter pays" principle. Mitrev also placed special emphasis on the assessment of the impact of future legislation - in connection with the effect of the normative rules on the competitiveness of enterprises, the circular economy and the regulatory burden.
Boryana Manolova, vice-president of KRIB, pointed out the need to review the price indexation mechanism for public procurement in the construction sector. She gave as an example the municipalities that do not have allocated funds from the budget to cover the increased prices in construction.
Acad. Denkov shared that the presentation of the Government's management program is expected within three weeks. The Prime Minister emphasized the economic and energy transition. He also emphasized the need for reforms in the field of secondary and higher education, which would lead to an improvement in the quality of the products of the education system in the country. Academician Denkov expressed support for the AOBE's proposals for targeting social assistance and preserving the tax system. As a priority of the government, he noted Bulgaria's acceptance into the Eurozone, the OECD and the Schengen area.
Maria Gabriel shared that she will focus on the country's visa policy, review and shorten the terms for issuing visas, startup visas, etc. Gabriel also noted that he will work to promote interaction between business and the European Alliance of Universities. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Gabriel indicated that the main focus will be placed on the economy of diplomacy.
