MARIYA MINCHEVA: WE NEED A CLEAR VISION FOR A PRAGMATIC AND REALISTIC FRAMEWORK FOR THE GREEN DEAL

Mariya Mincheva, Vice President of BIA will take part in the first panel discussion "The Realities of Green Europe - Speed, Resources, Security" at the 15th Green Forum on 4 June.

- We are seeing an increase in protectionism from the major economies. How will this affect international trade and the competitiveness of Bulgarian companies?

- A policy of protectionism means less Europe and will undoubtedly have a negative impact on smaller economies that do not have the same resources to support the metals industry. This tone has been set by the passage of the IRA in the US, and in the absence of an adequate response at European level and against the backdrop of the EU's declining competitiveness and economic influence globally, the reaction of the major economies is understandable, but in the long term - unacceptable.

- How will the introduction of the European carbon tax affect business in Bulgaria?

- Businesses will effectively pay higher prices for products imported from outside the EU. This applies to metals, fertilisers, electricity, which go into many downstream manufacturing sectors, and also agriculture. This is likely to result in rising prices for products that are paid for by consumers (domestic and industrial). Imported products will also contribute significantly to the carbon footprint of what is produced in the country and it will be very difficult for businesses to comply with sustainability requirements. Uncertainty as to whether foreign suppliers will thoroughly document their sustainability efforts is likely to increase the risk for importers and raise prices for intermediate products.

- European elections and a new EP are coming. Is there a threat to the Green Deal and its objectives?

- We should not be talking about a threat to the Green Deal, but about a clear vision for bringing it into a pragmatic, realistic framework. The Green Deal was announced as a growth strategy, but objective reality shows that achieving its ambitious goals is a major challenge on all fronts. The risks that we need to talk about relate to the danger of deindustrialisation and loss of competitiveness. If these risks are realised, it is surely a sure recipe for a reduction in the well-being of all groups in society.

The 15th Green Forum of “Manager” will be held on 4 June at 12 pm at Inter Expo Center.