The General Assembly of SGI Europe, held today in Brussels, elected the organization’s leadership team for the next three years. Ingbert Liebing (Germany), a long-time expert in public services and local governance, was confirmed as President. Stefan Chaikov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of BICA, was elected Vice-President of SGI Europe until 2028. Other members of the leadership team elected as Vice-Presidents are Philippe Laurent (France), Joanna Makowiecka (Poland), and Yuri Santagostino (Italy). Rositsa Stelianova, Director of Programs and Projects at BICA, was re-elected to lead SGI Europe’s Working Group on Vocational Education and Training.
The election of the new leadership comes at a crucial moment for Europe, when access to reliable and high-quality services of general interest is essential for the Union’s social and territorial cohesion. The absence of such services leads to depopulation, increasing inequalities, and weakening of economic and democratic resilience. In this context, SGI Europe outlined three main strategic priorities for the period up to 2028:
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Positioning services of general interest at the center of European policies – emphasizing the role of general interest services in economic security, democratic legitimacy, and territorial cohesion; developing an EU approach that places vital public functions and Union preparedness at the heart of strategic planning.
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Active advocacy with EU institutions – strengthening cooperation with the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the European Council to integrate services of general interest into key policies, strategic documents, and legislative initiatives.
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Expanding and strengthening the membership network – supporting existing sections, creating new national structures, and attracting diverse organizations at local, regional, and national levels.
On the occasion of their election, Stefan Chaikov and Rositsa Stelianova were personally congratulated by the newly elected SGI Europe President Ingbert Liebing and Secretary-General Valeria Ronciti, who expressed confidence in the successful implementation of the new strategic tasks. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Milena Angelova, Secretary-General of BICA and long-serving Vice-President of SGI Europe, received special thanks for her 15 years of active service. The entire SGI Europe General Assembly and Assoc. Prof. Angelova expressed confidence that she will remain actively involved in the organization’s work in the future as a member of the General Assembly’s Advisory Board.
SGI Europe is an official partner in the social dialogue of the European Commission. As a member of the organization, the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association (BICA) maintains an active dialogue with EU institutions and participates in drafting and amending legislation that shapes the business environment in Europe.
