site.btaEuropean Commission's REGIO.E Director Alves: Automotive Industry Needs to Transform to Achieve Europe's Carbon-Neutral Economy Goals

Sofia Alves, head of the European Commission's Administrative Capacity Building and Programme Implementation II (REGIO.E) directorate, said in an interview for BTA that the automotive industry will have to transform to achieve Europe's goals for carbon-neutral economy, and that should bring benefits to everyone. Since the technology of electric mobility should become available quickly and at affordable prices, the European Commission (EC) recommends manufacturers to work with universities and R&D centres in that directions, she said.

That is a collective effort of the EU, the Member States, and the industry, and all participants in the process will have to pay part of that price, but the goal is bigger and more important, Alves argued. In her words, the EC sets its policies that should be implemented by the Member States, but the industry needs care, and that requires the collective efforts of all countries. 

Alves was in Burgas (on the Black Sea) on Wednesday, where she visited the Centre for Contemporary Art and the Peyo Yavorov Library. The library building won the Public Choice Award in the EC's 2023 REGIOSTARS competition. Thanks to Cohesion funds, the once abandoned building was reconverted into a cultural and educational centre, now home to a museum, the largest library in Southeastern Bulgaria with 600 000 books, and a space which can be used for community events and workshops. Alves commented that the library is a cultural centre that connects people, gives them free access to books, education, development, and new technologies. This is an exceptionally creative way to build a connection between the local community and culture, she noted.

Alves said this was her first visit to Burgas and to the Black Sea coast. In her words, she got acquainted with many of the projects implemented with EU funding in Burgas. She visited St Anastasia Island, the renovated railway station, the Chengele Skele fishermen settlement, and the Sea Garden. The resources from EU funds have been used very reasonably, she commented.