Bulgaria has been a provider of development cooperation since joining the EU.

In 2023, the country secured 93 million euros through the EU's general budget, European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen said in an interview with BTA. This represents 0,6% of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) that EU member states channeled through the EU in 2023.

Urpilainen gave the interview on the eve of a working visit to Bulgaria on Tuesday. She is scheduled to meet with the acting foreign minister, Ivan Kondov, as well as with representatives of businesses, NGOs and youth organizations. Among the expected topics of discussion will be the geopolitical situation and Bulgaria's participation in the implementation of the EU's Global Gateway investment strategy.

She told BTA that Bulgaria's influence could be greater than its financial contribution.

"I know that Bulgaria focuses its efforts on the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership countries, given your extensive expertise gained during the accession process. The Global Gateway is also opening in these regions," said the Finnish commissioner.

"Global Gateway is the EU's positive offer to partners, our investment strategy with the objective of mobilizing up to 300 billion euros of public and private investment for sustainable infrastructure and human development in the Global South," explained Urpilainen.

The program places special emphasis on creating local values ​​and building mutually beneficial partnerships, including industrialization and job creation, she added.

Urpilainen emphasized that this is not a European alternative to China's One Belt, One Road program to finance infrastructure and other development projects in Asia and Africa. /BTA