The Members of the European Parliament Maria Gabriel and Eva Paunova (EPP), Filiz Hyusmenova and Iskra Mihaylova (ALDE) will meet on June 22 and 23, 2016 in Brussels with the delegation from the Council of Women in Business in Bulgaria (CWBB), who are on a working visit there. The delegation includes 14 business women, representatives of some of the most successful companies in Bulgaria from the technology sector, finance and banking, hospitality and business consulting. During the visit 10 business meetings with influential politicians and NGO representatives at the European level organized by the MEPs are planned.

“We want to show how in Bulgaria we promote the professional and career development of women in small and medium businesses. We are sure that we will build new partnerships with which to reward our initiatives that enable young and talented professionals to realize their potential in Bulgaria,” Dr. Eng. Boryana Manolova, chairperson of CWBB said. She thanked the Bulgarian representatives for the opportunity for contacts, exchange of views and best practices with European leaders. The delegation discussed with Bulgarian MEPs the topic of quotas for women in all public areas. The Bulgarian MEPs expressed support for the Sofia Declaration, adopted at the Global Forum of Women Leaders, which was held in late May 2016.

During the visit the delegation will hold meetings with Kristalina Georgieva, European Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources and the European Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs Mrs. Elzbieta Bienkowska. The ladies will discuss policies affecting entrepreneurship and the role of women in business together with the Vice-President of the European Parliament Mairead McGuinness, EPP Secretary General Antonio Lopez and MEPs Martina Dlabayova and Angelika Niebler. Discussions with the heads of the American Chamber of Commerce in the EU, the Centre for Political strategies of the Juncker Commission and the Network for Gender Equality of ALDE are expected.