The Prime Minister Acad. Nikolay Denkov Delivered a Lecture during the Youth Economic Forum at the UNWE

The 20^th Anniversary edition of the Youth Economic Forum 2023 /YEF/ organized by the Student Council of UNWE and the National Representation of the Student Councils /NRSC/ was opened in Maxima Aula. The theme of the Forum is Bulgaria in the Eurozone - Prospects, and Challenges for Young People.

During the first day of the Forum the guest speaker was the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria Acad. Nikolay Denkov who is also the patron of the event this year.

Ilian Chabukliisky, Chairman of the Student Council at UNWE, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria Acad. Nikolay Denkov, the Rector of UNWE Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, Daniel Parushev, Chairman of the NRSC  /from the left to the right/

The Forum was opened by the Chairman of the Student Council Ilian Chabukliisky: "It`s an honour for me to welcome you to the 20th Anniversary edition of the largest student event - Youth Economic Forum 2023. Over the years, our guest speakers have been prominent representatives of the government, state administration, business, and Non-Governmental Organizations /NGO`s/ sector. In the current edition for the first time our guest lecturer and patron of the Forum is the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria Acad. Nikolay Denkov. Through the Forum we aim to highlight and analyze the current topics and issues about our country which excite the young generation. I would like to express my gratitude to the Prime Minister for respecting the event and agreeing to share his views on the topic Bulgaria in the Eurozone - Prospects and Challenges for the Young People". I would like to express my gratitude to the NRSC and in particular to its Chairman Daniel Parushev who accepted the invitation to organize this Anniversary edition of the Forum together".

The Rector of UNWE Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov outlined that the Youth Economic Forum allows students to participate in a fruitful discussion.

"The topic of the Forum is extremely relevant and important for the development of our country and the establishment of Bulgaria as an equal member of the European Union. A constructive dialogue is required between the institutions, the public and the business sector on the challenges and economic prospects that our country, including young people, faces with the incorporation of the euro. The participation of academic circles and the student community in this process shows how important is the role of organized civil society in the process of Bulgaria's integration into the Eurozone. “Congratulations to the Student Council and the NRSC for the successful organization of the event", said Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov and added: "It is not a coincidence that we are in this hall today because it is almost a historic day. You can see the new screen of Maxima Aula which costs nearly 100 thousand leva donated by Kaufland Bulgaria to our University. The business supports the UNWE because it sees the efforts we make to prepare highly qualified professionals for the economy of our country".

"These 20 years of the history of the Youth Economic Forum are a reason for pride, a reason for reassessment but also a reason for setting new goals. The fact that the Prime Minister Acad. Nikolay Denkov is here means a lot", said the Chairman of the NRSC Daniel Parushev and pointed out the good partnership between the NRSC and Acad. Nikolay Denkov at times when he was Minister of Education and Science and his merits for increasing the scholarship of Doctoral students. "It is important to pay attention to the system of higher education so the entire student community should be proud that a person from the academic circles, from the system of higher education is the head of the state", emphasized Daniel Parushev.

The Prime Minister Acad. Nikolai Denkov expressed thankfulness to the Student Council of UNWE and the NRSC for the invitation to participate in the forum and addressed Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov: "Mr. Rector, I am here for the third or fourth time and always at forums that are representative and fill with content our desire to exchange views."

In the course of his lecture Acad. Nikolai Denkov examined three aspects of the question: why do we want to adopt the euro; why is this one of the priorities of the government set very high; why despite the resistance and blows from different countries the government believes that this is important. He outlined first the fiscal aspects, the fact that the business in Bulgaria today loses directly from having to exchange currency when doing international trade and when looking for investors from abroad and they raise the question why they should invest in a country where they do not work with euro.

"The second aspect has to do with the extent to which we participate in decisions that are important for Bulgaria. On one hand, with the existence of the currency board we have the stability of the Bulgarian lev against the Euro and it is definitely an advantage, but on the other hand, we lose the opportunity to participate in decisions related to what will be the actions of the Central Bank, which are directly related to us, i.e. we are some observers of a process instead of participating directly in decision-making. Therefore, wherever is possible, the government has made it a priority to be fully integrated into European structures, to participate where decisions are taken and where information is exchanged", pointed out Acad. Nikolai Denkov and added: "And the third layer of arguments, which is much more abstract, but I think perhaps the most important of all, is that we actually have to decide what we want to be. Because Schengen and the Eurozone, the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development are organizations which, on one hand, set standards on how a country should be governed, but they are also standards that are based on certain values and we have to decide whether we want to live in a world that respects and develops these values or whether we want to slide in another direction".

During the event the Rector of UNWE Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov awarded to Acad. Nikolay Denkov the Commemorative Medal of Prof. Stephan Bobchev - Founder and First Rector of UNWE. The award is conferred to Acad. Nikolay Denkov for his proven merits in the field of higher education and for the support he provides to the University of National and World Economy.

On the occasion of the 20th Anniversary edition of the Youth Economic Forum, for strengthening the good name and authority of the University of National and World Economy, the Rector handled a Greeting Address and awarded the Student Council at UNWE with the Commemorative Medal of Prof. Stephan Bobchev - Founder and First Rector of UNWE.

The Rector awarded to Daniel Parushev the jubilee book 100 Years of the University of National and World Economy 1920-2020.

The Prime Minister Acad. Nikolai Denkov and the Rector of the UNWE were awarded Honorary Plaques from the Student Council for significant contribution to the promotion and development of the YEF.

The event was attended by the Rector`s Managing Body, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eng. Lilyana Valcheva, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of UNWE and Chairwoman of the National Branch Syndicate Higher Education and Science to the Independent Syndicates Confederation, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dragomir Stefanov, Secretary General for Social and Living Issues of Undergraduates and Foreign Students of UNWE and Chairman of the Student Council /2003-2005/, when the first Youth Economic Forum was held, Angel Stoykov, President of the Alumni Club of the Student Council at UNWE, lecturers from different Departments, undergraduates, Doctoral students and employees.

After the Forum the Prime Minister Acad. Nikolay Denkov met with the Rector of UNWE Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov. The subject of the discussion was the system of higher education and the policy in this area.

The Prime Minister Acad. Nikolay Denkov wrote a message in the Honorary Book of the Student Council at UNWE.