Informal Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Competitiveness 01-02 February: Media Advisory

The informal meeting of ministers responsible for competitiveness will take place over two days on 1-2 February 2018 in Sofia. On 1 February, ministers responsible for industry will discuss the future of European industrial policy and address issues including the digitalisation of the economy and Europe’s competitive advantage. Ministers responsible for research will meet on 2 February and discuss the future of research and innovation in Europe.

Agenda

1 February 2018 | Thursday

Informal meeting of ministers responsible for industry, chaired by Minister of Economy Emil Karanikolov

09:00-09:30 Arrivals at the National Palace of Culture and doorstep statements

09:45-11:15 Plenary session: Future of the European industrial policy

11:15 Family photo

11:45-13:30 Break-out sessions

Session A: New trends for industrial development - digitalisation of industry and the human dimension in the process of economic development

2

Session B: Value chains and development of competitive advantages for the European economy

13:45-15:15 Working Lunch: Energy intensive industries between opportunities and challenges. Digitisation and climate change

15:30-16:00 Press conference

2 February 2018 | Friday

Informal meeting of ministers responsible for research, chaired by Minister of Education and Science Krasimir Valchev

08:30-9:00 Arrivals at the National Palace of Culture and doorstep statements

9:30-10:10 Plenary session I: Acceleration of knowledge transfer and impact of research and innovation

10:10 Family photo

11:00-12:30 Break-out sessions

Session A: The future of R&I in Europe: boosting innovation

Session B: The future of R&I in Europe: investing in human capital

12:30-13:30 Plenary session II: Summary and main conclusions

15:00-15:30 Press conference

Background

The informal meeting of ministers responsible for industry will take place on 1 February 2018. The meeting will be attended by Ministers and representatives from all the Member States of the European Union, as well as Switzerland and Norway, the European Economic and Social Committee, the European Committee of the Regions and business representatives. The European Commission will be represented by Elżbieta Bieńkowska, Commissioner for the Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs.

Accreditation information

Accredited journalists can pick up their badges on the day prior to the event at the Registration Desk at Entrance B-2 of the National Palace of Culture between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Members of the press arriving in Sofia on the day of the event will be able to get their badges at the same entrance upon their arrival at the National Palace of Culture. Only accredited members of the press will have access to the National Palace of Culture.

Photos and videos

All media opportunities during the event (doorstep statements, handshake, roundtable, press conference) will be streamed live on the Website of the Bulgarian Presidency. Throughout the day, photos and videos will be uploaded in the Photo and Video sections of the Website. All official photos from the event are also available for download in high resolution on the Flickr account of the Bulgarian Presidency. Videos can be downloaded from Vimeo.

Press contacts

In Sofia: Veselin Jelev, [email protected], +359 883 990 247

In Brussels: Elitsa Zlateva, [email protected], +32 476 996 634