site.btaRegional and Global Economic Challenges Discussed at Vienna Economic Forum - Sofia Meeting 2024

It is a matter of priority for Bulgaria and Romania to achieve full membership of the Schengen area by having land border controls lifted in addition to air and sea border controls, which were abolished on March 31, former Bulgarian deputy prime minister Mariya Gabriel said at the Vienna Economic Forum (VEF) - Sofia Meeting 2024 on Monday. She said: "We should carry on and make sure that the land border hurdle is removed as well, because this means far greater opportunities for economic cooperation and for business."

Gabriel went on to note: "The world has changed in an unprecedented way over the last few years, which has made it necessary to adopt ambitious measures in response to the new challenges. We have strongly condemned the Russian aggression and supported Ukraine through all possible channels: political, diplomatic, humanitarian and military. I believe that all of us together will keep supporting Ukraine."

According to Gabriel, the current developments in the Middle East are highly disturbing. She called for preventing escalation in the region and addressing the humanitarian needs in the Gaza Strip.

"The risks associated with these military conflicts affect not only the countries directly involved in them but also the entire EU, global security and the global economy. We should not be passive - this is the message from the VEF. We need to be active and stay united," Gabriel said.

She stressed the importance of supporting the Western Balkans and the region's European integration. She pointed to the need to identify priority projects to upgrade infrastructure and connectivity among the countries of the Western Balkans and the VEF nations.

VEF Secretary General Elena Kirtcheva said the Sofia meeting shows yet again that the shared interests of the economic entities working earnestly for the prosperity of the region between the Adriatic and the Black Sea are producing positive results. "The VEF motto, 'The Economy Is the Motor', is working," Kirtcheva said. She described the VEF as a platform for visionaries.