The President of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Tsvetan Simeonov, participated in a series of working meetings of the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Eurochambers), which took place in Malta with the participation of heads and representatives of national chambers from the whole of Europe.
The meeting of the Chambers with voluntary membership discussed the up-to-date economic trends and challenges to European businesses, the options to reduce the administrative burden on enterprises (“Bureaucratic Detox”) and the role of the chambers in support of businesses. A special emphasis was put on the global changes in the economic environment and their impact on the competitiveness of European companies.
Tsvetan Simeonov presented the current economic development of Bulgaria. He emphasised the importance of political stability after a long period of frequent government changes, the existence of a parliamentary majority and the support of the state institutions for the country’s key economic priorities. Emphasis was put on Bulgaria keeping some of the lowest tax rates in Europe, on the efforts to improve the business environment and on the fight with corruption, as well as on the traditionally low level of public debt.
BCCI President held a series of bilateral meetings with colleagues from the European chambers, which were a good opportunity to swap experiences, discuss the common challenges to the European economy and strengthen the partnerships among the chambers in support of businesses and investments in Europe.
The President of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry participated also in the Eurochambers General Assembly in Valletta. The Forum brought together presidents of chambers of commerce and industry from the whole of Europe to discuss the common priorities of European businesses and strengthen the coordinated voice of the chambers before the European institutions.
The topics of innovations, investments, competitiveness and the strengthening of the single European market were in the centre of the discussions. The participants exchanged views on the role of the chambers in support of the businesses in the conditions of a rapidly changing economic environment and growing geopolitical and technological challenges.
The event was opened by the President of the Malta Chamber of Commerce, William Spiteri Bailey. The Programme also included video addresses from the European Commissioner Glenn Micallef and the European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.
A special highlight of the event was the participation of the President of the Republic of Malta, H.E. Myriam Spiteri Debono, who emphasised the key role of Eurochambers as the biggest business network in Europe, representing over 20 million enterprises through more than 1,700 regional and local chambers. In her address, she noted that European businesses are facing the simultaneously running processes of digital and green transformation, geopolitical uncertainty, demographic challenges and accelerated technological changes.
The General Assembly considered the Reports on the activity and finances of Eurochambers, approved the 2025 Annual Financial Statements and the updated budget for 2026 and it discussed the preparation of the organisation’s Congress which will take place in Valencia on 28–29 September 2026.
During the meetings, Tsvetan Simeonov held talks with colleagues from the European chambers regarding the competitiveness of enterprises, the reduction in the administrative burden and the opportunities for closer cooperation among the chambers in support of businesses.
BCCI’s participation in the Eurochambers General Assembly reaffirms the Chamber’s commitment to the active participation in the European economic policies and to the protection of the interests of Bulgarian enterprises within the Single European Market.