SOFIA – Regional Cooperation as a part of the European Integration, the Sub-Region Western Balkans: Reality and Expectation – Who takes the Responsibility and the Role of Investments for Growth and Stability will be the topics of the ‘Sofia Talks 2018’, discussion organised by the Vienna Economic Forum, which will be held on 18 May in Sofia.
The motto of this official side event of the EU-Western Balkans Summit 2018 is “Politics meets Economy” and it will aim to facilitate a direct exchange between the democratically elected leaders from the Western Balkans and high-level representatives of regional and international economy.
Some of the key speakers of the event will be Lilyana Pavlova, Minister of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2018, Ekaterina Zaharieva, Deputy Prime Minister for Judicial Reform and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, Boyko Borissov, PM of Bulgaria, Edi Rama, PM of Albania, Denis Zvizdić, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ramush Haradinaj, PM of Kosovo, Zoran Zaev, PM of Macedonia, Duško Marković, PM of Montenegro, Ana Brnabić, PM of Serbia, Alejandro Plater, CEO/CTO Telekom Austria, A1 Group
and Peter Umundum, Member of the Board of Österreichische Post AG.
It is stated that they will discuss a more pragmatic oriented and intense regional economic cooperation and – with support from the regional leaders – look for solutions in different sectors of the regional economy.
From the side of the economy, the interests in the development of different regional economic sectors will be demonstrated by Members of the Board of Vienna Economic Forum from the region, Europe and beyond.
“With Sofia Talks 2018, Vienna Economic Forum wants to build a bridge between the Bulgarian EU-Presidency and the following Austrian EU-Presidency in the second half of the year”, it is stated.
Vienna Economic Forum (VEF) was established in April 2004 in Vienna as a Bulgarian initiative with the aim of promoting regional economic cooperation between the member countries of the region from the Adriatic to the Black Sea. In its 14 years of existence, Vienna Economic Forum has continuously been strengthening its role both in the region of South Eastern Europe, and also in other EU- and non-EU countries. As a recognition for all the years of successful activities in the region, Vienna Economic Forum has received the status International Non-Governmental Organization, the Special consultative status at the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC), and is registered in the Transparency Register of the European Parliament and European Commission.