In order to be competitive and make the most from its membership in the European Union, Bulgaria needs to be No. 1 in every possible aspect, said Simeon Djankov, Bulgarian Finance Minister, at a lecture Friday, Jan. 22, 2010 in front of a full auditorium of more than 200 students, faculty, staff, and Blagoevgrad community members. The minister went on to talk about the Bulgarian government’s priorities in the economic and financial spheres.

“From now on we can only afford to be number one,” Djankov said, outlining how he plans to boost the country to that level. Fiscal discipline, incentives for investment, and a tougher stance on corruption are some of his ministry’s main priorities. 

Special efforts need be made to improve Bulgaria’s higher education system and its scientific research capabilities, Djankov said. One way to strengthen the educational system is to encourage research in addition to maintaining high teaching standards, a common practice at top U.S. universities. He also noted that some Europe-based universities have been successful in incorporating the American model into their programs and gave AUBG as an example of that.

“Research is often thought to be done by a solitary person with no social life working deeply at night. But this is not how research is done. Research is done by going to conferences, discussing ideas. The best people to discuss [those ideas] with are actually students. During the exchange with students professors learn a lot,” Djankov said.

His talk was followed by a Q&A session, during which audience members touched on a number of hot issues, such as corruption and unpaid tax obligations to the state, EU funds, and Bulgaria’s import-export policy.