/Pogled.info/ Bulgaria can play a key role in the green transition
“The last five years of the mandate of the European Parliament have clearly shown that the institution can make quick decisions in crisis situations that solve problems. It should be highlighted what is the role of Bulgaria in determining some of the European policies. Often, talking about these topics, we have the feeling that Brussels is almost imposing some rules on us and we have to follow them. No, on the contrary. We participate in the construction and preparation of these rules and, in my opinion, it is really high time to give a clear assessment and idea to the Bulgarian citizens why and how, what role we play in defining these policies.” This was stated by the MEP from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of socialists and democrats Tsvetelina Penkova in the program “Sunday 150” of BNR. As a success, she pointed to Bulgaria’s participation in the negotiations for nuclear energy to be recognized as a strategic and sustainable energy for the future of Europe. “This is one of the examples when Bulgaria played a key role in determining some European policies in the long term. The question is how the Green Floor will be implemented in the most adequate way so that we guarantee affordable prices for people, ensure a smooth transition and ensure the production of a large part of these components that are needed for nuclear power, for renewable energy sources , to bring these productions back within Europe. These will be the main policies from now on in the next mandate – the re-industrialization of Europe and the connectivity of the energy and electricity transmission network,” commented the MEP.
“Europe’s policies must reach each and every one of the citizens in the European Union more clearly. Because if we don’t do it, we won’t be able to convince people that they should go and vote,” said Penkova. She gave as an example that Bulgaria is the sixth exporter within the European Union of non-ferrous metals. 14% of honey comes from Bulgaria, 4% of zinc, 8% of lead. “These are key metals that are needed to produce components for Europe’s energy and industrial transition. The problem is that there is not enough publicity on the continent that Bulgaria has this contribution and that we can play a key role in this transition,” she added. As another problem, he outlined that if we are only an exporter of raw materials, components with high added value are not produced in our economy and have no return for Bulgaria, which is not the right approach. “What needs to be done is to outline the strengths of each country – what raw materials they have, where we can help and where we can play a key role within all these big European policies. Therefore, at the end of the mandate, in March, I plan to hold a large conference in Brussels, at which we will present the Bulgarian industry, the Bulgarian energy sector to our European partners, so that it is clear what role we can play and in what way we can actively include in these processes”, emphasized Tsvetelina Penkova.
The MEP outlined a very important task for all Bulgarian MEPs to report on what they have done: “I believe that in the last five years, my team and I have put in a lot of effort and managed to protect a large part of the interests of the Bulgarian energy sector, of the industry. We managed to protect the national interest and it found a place and manifestation in European policies.”
Become a friend of Look.info on facebook and recommend to your friends