Bulgaria’s EU entry meant prosperity, security and solidarity for Bulgarian businesses, head of the Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria (CEIB) Ivo Prokopiev said during a meeting with diplomats from EU member states.

CEIB presented on January 16 its views on economic and political priorities for Bulgaria after the country’s EU entry, Focus news agency reported.

Diplomats from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Poland, Hungary, Finland and Sweden took part in the meeting.

Economic growth should be one of Bulgaria’s main priorities. Among the specific goals to be met were a faster GDP growth rate, energy security and proper utilisation of EU structural funds, said Prokopiev.

Bulgaria will get access to nearly 12 billion euro from these funds in the coming seven years, Prokopiev said. The financial aid needed to become an instrument for economic growth, rather than a goal in itself, said he.

Improving the quality of human capital was also of key importance, according to CEIB. Labour market reforms, social aid improvements and the creation of new work places were the goals in the sector, said Prokopiev.