“It is necessary to uphold a consistent policy in the field of industry and energy. Everything that has been achieved so far for Bulgaria should continue to be defended in the European institutions, and not to change the direction depending on the distribution of political forces. Therefore, together with leading representatives of the Bulgarian industry and energy, we have prepared a document with priorities that must be followed from now on by the members of the European Parliament for the upcoming mandate 2024-2029,” this was stated by BSP MEP Tsvetelina Penkova to BNR.
“Bulgaria is currently in sixth place in Europe in terms of production and processing of non-ferrous metals – copper, lead and zinc. They are key metals when we talk about the production of new technologies, about the production of energy-related technologies, when we talk about the renewal and creation of the electricity transmission network in Europe,” Penkova pointed out. She added that our country has the available raw materials, which is key, because it turned out that in many countries they are exhausted. “The problem is that we are a major exporter. The production that guarantees production and creates jobs does not stay in Bulgaria. It is exported, used somewhere else and then we import the technology and pay double the price. The goal is to give a clear assessment that we have the opportunity to launch these productions in Bulgaria as well, and this should happen in the next few years. We have specialists,” commented the MEP.
Tsvetelina Penkova announced that the legislation for which she was the main negotiator in the EP is to be adopted tomorrow – the regulation for zero net emissions or the so-called Regulation for the reindustrialization of Europe, which provides for the removal of administrative restrictions and financial assistance from Europe to create new productions of strategically important technologies: “Eighteen technologies are included that will be important for the European economy and Bulgaria can benefit from European funding, expertise and all kinds of technical relief that will be given to member states.”
“I put a lot of effort into 2022 for nuclear energy to be officially recognized as green and sustainable, which makes it possible to finance the sector – not only from state budgets, but also from private capital,” noted the MEP. She emphasizes that it is necessary to build a chain for the production of specialized parts to serve the sector – their construction and their maintenance. “Bulgaria also has potential. Steps must be taken for European funding in the nuclear sector, although it will be very complicated. We should not ignore the condition that in order to have an independent nuclear energy, we must also service all the raw materials that are invested. A political framework must be created for the extraction of uranium on the territory of Europe using new technologies that protect the environment. Bulgaria has a serious potential in this regard,” commented Penkova.
The MEP noted that the liberalization of electricity prices in our country is a condition, but without clear deadlines. “This is a process that must happen when Bulgarian consumers and regulatory authorities are prepared, without endangering Bulgarian households. The delay in payments is the result of a ridiculous policy by the authorities and is not related to liberalization. It is no coincidence that the party I represent – BSP, repeatedly requested this postponement, because it was more important to protect our households and Bulgarian citizens. Let’s be realistic, no one in Brussels will want to put European citizens at risk”, explained Tsvetelina Penkova and added: “The ambiguity in this liberalization was definitely a concern for everyone. This is a sufficient condition not to play with prices and the income of Bulgarian households. The procedures and bodies that will implement it and where these compensation funds will come from must be clear.”
To contact the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the EP: https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/
