BCCI took part in the 120th Plenary Assembly of EUROCHAMBRES and in a meeting of the Board of Directors in Brussels

During the 120^th Plenary Assembly in Brussels, the programme of main events of EUROCHAMBRES was approved. A document in support of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between EU and Canada was adopted.

The President of BCCI Tsvetan Simeonov was elected in the Board of Directors of EUROCHAMBRES and the Vice President of BCCI Georgi Stoev was re-elected as a member of the Budgetary Committee.

The priorities of EUROCHAMBRES were discussed: trade, investment, common single market, care for the people (refugees), finances and economy, SMEs, entrepreneurship, better laws, good neighbourly relations, energy and environment.

The participants in the Assembly identified the need of more efficient positions of EUROCHAMBRES concerning the expansion of free trade. As a main problem they pointed out the growing number of NGOs – more than 250, which work for national protectionist measures, which is not in the interest of international trade and development. It became clear that the next position to be reviewed by EUROCHAMBRES shall focus on intensifying the negotiations for free trade agreements between the EU and Thailand, India.

The shared experience during the 120^th Plenary Assembly of EUROCHAMBRES led to the need to determine a Day of the Entrepreneur. BCCI will introduce the general public to the initiatives of entrepreneurs in a market economy. In this regard, the Chamber supports the establishment of a Day of the Entrepreneur in Bulgaria so that the citizens will have more respect and understanding of the resources, time and knowledge that manufacturers in the country need to possess in order to make their products, establish relations with international markets and export them.

Another important topic to work on is the possibility to include Chambers of commerce actively in refugee integration. Germany presented important experience in this field.