Bulgaria and Austria share a common position on the need of energy diversification in Europe. This is what President Rosen Plevneliev and his Austrian colleague President Heinz Fischer voiced at a joint news conference after the meeting they held at 2 Dondukov street. President Fischer is on an official visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of the Bulgarian Head of State.
This serial summit proves the excellent relations between Bulgaria and Austria and the active dialogue between the two countries on issues on the agenda of the EU, the region and the world, President Plevneliev said. Heinz Fischer’s visit coincides with the 135th anniversary since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Austria, which the two countries mark with a series of events.
Both countries support the construction of the South Stream pipeline, which should be carried out in line with the European legislation and the requirements of the Third EU Energy Liberalization Package, Rosen Plevneliev and Heinz Fischer emphasized. The Bulgarian Head of State voiced his hope that a fair dialogue will be held between the EU member-states and the new European Commission, which should authorize the continuation of the work on the project. In reply to a journalist’s question, the President called on for a more active participation of the representatives of the Russian side in the talks with the European Commission so that the disputable issues could be solved.
“The construction of inter-connectors with the neighboring countries is of strategic importance for Bulgaria and will link our country with alternative suppliers of natural gas,” the President further said. Rosen Plevneliev was adamant that Bulgaria will continue to explore the aquatoria of the Black Sea to ensure additional supplies of natural gas. The President once again identified energy efficiency as a major priority which will contribute to increasing the competitiveness of the Bulgarian economy and reducing the expenditures of the Bulgarian citizens. “Austria is a world leader in this area and the experience it has gained is of crucial importance for Bulgaria,” the Head of State said.
Our country will also implement Austria’s experience in improving the electronic services and introducing e-government, Rosen Plevneliev said and pointed out that the two countries have already signed a partnership agreement. Our country is planning to allocate 150 million euros within the framework of the Administrative Capacity operational program.
The two presidents unanimously agreed that Bulgaria and Austria can
further expand bilateral economic cooperation. In the recent years the bilateral trade exceeds one billion euros a year and the Austrian investments in the period 1996-2013 have reached six billion euros. “Our country is successfully winning recognition as a regional hub in information and communication technologies, in the production of car industry components and as an outsourcing services hub,” Rosen Plevneliev said and invited more Austrian companies to make investments in these promising sectors of the Bulgarian economy. The construction and modernization of the Bulgarian transport infrastructure also creates favorable conditions for partnership, the Head of State said. An upward trend is observed in the number of Austrian tourists in Bulgaria and Bulgarian visitors to Austria.
The two presidents further discussed the preservation of Bulgarian Studies as a separate specialty in the Institute of Slavic Studies at the University of Vienna. “Bulgaria is ready to support the specialty through scholarships and programmes of Bulgarian universities,” Rosen Plevneliev emphasized before representatives of the media. Our country will continue working to implement the system of dual vocational training as a measure for reducing youth unemployment and stimulating entrepreneurship and will use Austria’s experience in this sphere, the President pointed out. The two governments are planning to sign a new agreement on cooperation in culture, education, science and youth.
In the framework of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, Bulgaria and Austria will work to establish a “Danube” brand and promote the Danube Region as a common tourist destination, the two presidents’ words further made it clear.
Heinz Fischer expressed Austria's support for Bulgaria's nomination to become
a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in the period 2018-2019.
At the meeting the two Heads of State also discussed the need for a common EU
refugee policy and for adopting an approach ensuring a fair distribution of the burden of refugee influx between the member states. President Fischer was adamant that the EU should not leave the individual member-states to cope with this difficult problem on their own.
The Heads of State of Bulgaria and Austria share a common position in favour of the EU’s further enlargement. “The EU candidate states are Bulgaria’s immediate neighbours and Bulgaria has an interest in building a region of connectivity, prosperity, stability and security which upholds EU principles and values,” Rosen Plevneliev said and emphasized that maintaining and developing good-neighborly relations is of crucial importance for Bulgaria and is a necessary condition for ensuring a close cooperation between the future EU partners.
In his statement made at the press conference, President Plevneliev hailed the results of the general election held in Ukraine, which show the pro-European choice made by the Ukrainian people.
Earlier today the official welcoming ceremony of President Heinz Fischer was held at the Alexander Nevski square. The Austrian President laid a wreath at the Monument of the Unknown Soldier.
Tonight Presidents Rosen Plevneliev and Heinz Fischer will attend a concert of the Sofia philharmonic orchestra.
Tomorrow the two Heads of State will open a Bulgarian-Austrian business forum in the Sredets Hall of the Sofia Hotel Balkan. President Heinz Fischer’s delegation includes more than 50 representatives of Austrian companies.