Mariya Gabriel: Cooperation with municipalities is a driver for Bulgaria's development
27 February 2024 News
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariya Gabriel participated in the first meeting of the current municipal mandate of the General Assembly of the National Association of Municipalities in Bulgaria (NAMRB) at the invitation of Daniel Popov, Chair of the Board of NAMRB. Participants in the discussion were also the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria Acad. Nikolay Denkov and Minister of Finance Asen Vassilev.
The National Association unites the efforts of the Bulgarian municipalities to defend local self-government. The Association is the secretariat of the delegations to the European Committee of the Regions and is part of the Interministerial Coordination Mechanism for Bulgaria's accession to the OECD.
‘Municipalities have a key role to play in achieving the country's common priorities. I am aware of the importance of the regional dimension and I am particularly grateful for the active engagement and participation of the National Association of Municipalities in Bulgaria in achieving the country's priorities, namely our membership in the OECD and the adoption of the euro’, Gabriel underlined.
The Deputy Prime Minister also said that he relies on the municipalities for the implementation of the activities to mark Bulgaria's 20th anniversary as NATO member. Gabriel also expressed confidence in the active partnership between the National Association and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to organize a meeting between the municipalities along Corridor 8 and the companies on their territory.
‘Bulgaria has the potential to be a regional innovation leader, attracting investment and talent. In order for Bulgaria to be a regional innovation leader, it is important to adapt innovation to the reality, needs and strengths of the municipalities. The issue of innovation will be a leading one in Bulgaria's foreign policy strategy,’ Gabriel also said. She recalled that on her initiative innovation is already part of Bulgaria's strategic partnerships with the USA and the UK.
The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that in order to be effective efforts to improve the conditions for people and businesses, as well as to create sustainable prospects for young people in their native places, good cooperation is needed.
‘We are all working for common priorities — from making conditions better for people and businesses to attracting new investment and giving young people a perspective at home. The key word is cooperation. Only when there is cooperation between regions, cities, different sectors, public and private partners, science and business can we achieve better results’, Mariya Gabriel concluded.
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