The European Council on Foreign Relations in cooperation with InvestBulgaria Agency organized a discussion with topic:"Does the EU need investment agreement with China?"

Is there a need EU investment agreement with China? What are the opportunities and challenges facing Bulgaria in the context of negotiations between the EU and China? How our country could attract Chinese investments? On these and other questions tried to answer the discussion, organized jointly by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) and InvestBulgaria Agency (IBA), attended by Angela Shtancel (expert in the ECFR), Stamen Yanev (Executive Director of IBA), Daniel Valchev (former deputy Prime Minister and current member of the Board of ECFR).

Building on the publication of the ECFR "European interest in an investment agreement with China," Angela Shtancel stressed the need for unity in the positions of Member States of the EU as a way for the Union to make the most of the negotiation process with China. Stamen Yanev and Daniel Valchev focused on the prospects for Bulgaria as clarified that our country is a small market for the investor size of China. However, according to them, they are able to attract Chinese investments, if Bulgaria is positioned as a kind of "gateway" to China to the EU internal market. The discussion also focused on the existing format of cooperation with China 16 + 1 and Bulgarian participation.

Bulgaria clearly has an interest to attract as many Chinese investments. However, this interest has not yet materialized in a consolidated state position. The formation of regional alliances, including with countries outside the EU in the context of the form 16 + 1 is the opportunity that must be taken into account, according to the panelists.

At the event were about 40 experts from different government institutions and agencies.