French Federation of Local Public Enterprises (FedEpl) got acquainted with the best practices of municipal companies in the two largest Bulgarian municipalities – the Metropolitan Municipality and the Municipality of Plovdiv. The visit of the French delegation for the exchange of experience was organized with the assistance of Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association (BICA).

The Bulgarian Employers’ Organization is a member of the European Center for Employers and Enterprises with Public Participation and Enterprises providing Services of General Interest (CEEP). Through its membership, BICA draws experience and brings to the Bulgarian socio-economic environment the best models and practices of the European economic model.

“The development of services of general interest play an extremely important role in ensuring the social, economic and territorial cohesion of EU countries. They are vital for sustainable development in terms of employment, economic growth, social integration and the environment, both individually and in Europe as a whole. I am delighted that we have the opportunity to create partnerships between Bulgarian and French companies providing services of general interest, “said Assoc. Prof. Borislav Velikov, Member of the BICA’s National Council and Vice Chairman of the SEER Water Working Group.

During the meeting in Sofia, public enterprises such as Sofia Municipal Investment Agency, Sofia Real Estate, and the Center for Urban Mobility were presented. The French delegation also visited the third ray of the subway, as well as bio-waste treatment facilities.

Mayor Yordanka Fandakova, Honorary President of the FedEPl European Committee Jean-Leons DuPont, Secretary-General of BICA and Vice-President of the European Economic and Social Committee in charge of Budget Dr. Milena Angelova, members of the National Council participated in the meeting of BICA, as well as over 20 representatives of public companies in France.

The French Federation of Local Public Enterprises (FedEpl) was established in 1956. It has a membership of 1 300 local public enterprises employing 65,300 people. The total annual turnover of the companies is nearly EUR 14 billion.

Each year, the French Federation organizes exploratory visits for its members to different European countries in order to obtain more information on the work of local authorities there and how they develop services of general interest. In the last five years, the French Federation of Local Public Enterprises has become familiar with the experience in Hamburg, Seville, Bologna, Vienna and Stockholm.