Bulgaria needs a government with a clear, broad-based program for business and citizen security and reforms for accelerated development

The price of energy, excessive regulations and the lack of human resources are the three main factors that prevent European and Bulgarian companies from being competitive. The next government and parliament must have a clear agenda with measures to ensure security for businesses and citizens. "Currently, some enterprises are forced to make layoffs. Our industry is in decline, with the exception of one sector, and we see no indication in the next few months that this will change. Real investment is already below 15% of GDP. Bulgarian business needs security - a secure business environment and a sharp reduction in the regulatory burden, secure and affordable energy, motivated human resources with the necessary qualifications", said the Chairman of the Board of AICB Vasil Velev during today's meetings with the candidates for deputies of BSP - Christian Vigenin and Hristo Prodanov and for PP-DB - Radan Kanev.

During the talks with the BSP and PP-DB representatives, the possibility of introducing employment and income support measures similar to the German Kurzarbeit model was discussed. The model is similar to the "60/40" measure, and its introduction makes it possible to preserve employment in short-term periods of low business load in sectors affected by external causes.

"If there is no political stability, there is no way there will be economic growth and an opportunity to improve the standard of living of Bulgarians. We believe that a broad supra-party government with a prepared national program and priorities for implementation can provide the stability that Bulgaria needs", stated Hristo Prodanov.

According to Christian Vigenin, the EU has three major problems. These are the Green Deal, the war in Ukraine and deindustrialisation and loss of competitiveness. "When we enter the European Parliament, we will work for a revision of the Green Deal, and our main goal is to finally make decisions based on common sense," he added.

For Radan Kanev, the signals of decline that European industry gives to politicians are very serious. "I am ready, as before, to work with AICB in constant interaction. You should know, however, that the role of the national governments in determining the future priorities of the EC is essential, and for us as Bulgarians it is a problem that our country will enter this process without a regular government," he also stated.

Radan Kanev was categorical that the EU needs to strengthen protectionist measures in order to have a competitive pan-European economy. If he is elected as a representative in the European Parliament, he said that he will work for the re-industrialization of Europe, for the revision of the Green Deal, as well as for the reduction of over-regulations, which are among the main "stops" for business in Europe.