Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s proposal for so-called “industrial cohesion” remains largely a political concept rather than a detailed policy mechanism, with no specific funding formula, eligibility rules or implementation plan presented so far.
Speaking to the National Assembly, Radev argued that Bulgaria needs equal access to the future European Competitiveness Fund, warning that the absence of country-specific priorities could put less competitive economies and smaller companies at a disadvantage.
“The big challenge for countries like Bulgaria is that this huge Competitiveness Fund does not have any priorities by country. This means that the most competitive countries and companies will be able to attract unlimited funds,” Radev said.
The prime minister called for mechanisms that would make it easier for less developed EU countries and smaller businesses to access the fund’s instruments. However, he did not explain what such mechanisms would look like, how they would operate or what specific rules Bulgaria would seek to introduce.
It was in this context that Radev presented his concept of “industrial cohesion,” arguing that the EU’s traditional focus on social cohesion should be complemented by measures protecting the ability of industries in less developed member states to compete for European funding.
