site.btaEmployers Discuss Public Services, EU Cohesion Policy, Pillar of Social Rights

Sofia, June 1 (BTA) - Over 70 representatives of European employer associations rallied round the idea that the cohesion policy is the most important instrument of the EU for achieving economic cohesion and sustainable development, and is at the core of supporting and developing public services. They met at an international conference on "Public services as drivers of sustainable development and growth in Europe" organized by the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association (BICA) and the European Centre of Employers and Enterprises providing Public Services and Services of general interest (CEEP). Details of the forum were made public by the BICA press office Friday.

BICA leader Vassil Velev said that public services determine directly the quality of life and business climate, and are a key aspect of competitiveness.

Velev went on to express concern over the European Commission proposal reducing the budget for cohesion policy by 150 billion euro during the new programming period.

Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov said in his remarks at the forum that the changes and development in recent years of public services showed that they can be a powerful instrument for supporting the member states.

The participants also discussed the Pillar of Social Rights emphasizing the imbalances in labour demand and supply. They argued that addressing the problem goes through integrating into the labour market those who have remained outside it, especially the long-term unemployed, and training them in areas experiencing a severe labour shortage.

Labour Minister Bisser Petkov, who was also among the participants, pointed out that achieving economic growth without social development would worsen the inequalities and poverty.