He discussed the process of implementing the digital wallet in Bulgaria, the first version of which will become operational by the end of 2026.
Bulgaria’s Sigma platform was highlighted as a working example of transparency in public procurement enabled by open source.
Within a single working day, Minister Ivan Vasilev held six meetings at the European Commission and at Bulgaria’s Permanent Representation in Brussels. The discussions covered digital services for citizens, innovation and support for startups, technological sovereignty and cybersecurity, as well as the participation of Bulgarian companies in European programmes.
Minister of Innovation and Digital Transformation Ivan Vasilev held a series of talks in Brussels with European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva; Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy Henna Virkkunen; Director-General of the Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space Timo Pesonen; Director-General of the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs Kerstin Jorna; and Director-General of the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology Roberto Viola. The visit began with a working meeting with Bulgaria’s Permanent Representative to the European Union, Ambassador Rumen Alexandrov.
The discussions took place in a constructive and positive atmosphere and showed that Bulgaria is participating in European technology discussions as a partner with clear positions and solutions already prepared. Bulgaria expressed its support for a strong Competitiveness Fund in the next Multiannual Financial Framework, easier access for small and medium-sized enterprises to European programmes, and broader use of European AI capacity by Bulgarian researchers, startups and businesses. Bulgaria also expressed its readiness to be among the pilot countries for rapid digital registration of companies and for regulatory experiments in a European format. “We went to Brussels with local solutions already prepared, not just with questions. Bulgaria has something to show and stands confidently alongside its European partners on the issues that will shape the next decade,” Minister Ivan Vasilev said.
In his discussions with his European interlocutors, the Minister also confirmed the current timetable for the digital wallet, with technical readiness at 60%. A single application is also planned, which will gradually bring together services for citizens and then for businesses.
Bulgaria’s Sigma platform, developed with open-source code, attracted particular interest among our European partners, as the issue of transparency and ex post control in public procurement is also among the priorities at European level. “Transparency in the spending of public funds is a Bulgarian issue, but also a European one, and our country already has a working response to it, which is to be further developed,” Minister Vasilev said.
The remainder of the programme included discussions on the participation of Bulgarian technology companies in European defence and space programmes, the technological sovereignty package, cybersecurity, and access for researchers and entrepreneurs to research infrastructure and supercomputing capacity. The Ministry of Innovation and Digital Transformation will continue its active participation in European working formats on digital dossiers.