MEP Eva Paunova (GERB/EPP Group) and the President of Bulgaria Rosen Plevneliev presented Bulgaria at the Conference CEPS Ideas Lab, organised by the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS). Founded in 1983, CEPS is among the most experienced and authoritative NGOs operating in the EU today, and its annual conference in Brussels gathers more than 500 experts from around the world. Vice-Presidents of the European Commission such as Maroš Šefčovič and Valdis Dombrovskis, and the Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe Nils Muyzhnieks took part in the forum.
In her speech, part of the panel “Disconnected Europe? The continuing quest for a Digital Single Market”, Paunova stated that the development of a stable European digital economy is one of the key prerequisites for higher growth and more jobs in the EU. The completion of the Digital Single Market will gain the EU benefits of € 500 million in additional growth. For the realisation of the project of full completion of the digital single market, besides favorable legislative framework, it is essential to promote the trust of citizens and businesses that are part of the digital economy.
The timely adoption of a comprehensive and realistic framework for data protection in EU copyright and net neutrality are a key priorities for Eva Paunova. According to her, only when we have completed the single market for digital services, the EU will have the opportunity to compete more successfully outside its borders and to realise its potential as a world leader in the field of ICT.