NEWS

Bulgaria is ready to contribute with concrete ideas and projects to creating a regional energy union, President Rosen Plevneliev said regarding the Strategy for a European Energy Union proposed by the European Commission. After the meeting he held with Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, the Head of State said that the fact that the strategy targets the region of Southeast Europe is a positive sign. “This is a vision ensuring more integration and connectivity, transparency in negotiating the supplies of energy resources to Europe,” the President said and highlighted that the strategy envisages that each EU member state should have access to at least three independent sources for the supply of energy resources, including natural gas. “When the real liberalization is reached, then market prices of the energy resources will be ensured and the complete connectivity of the energy networks will totally change EU’s appearance and will create new conditions for guaranteeing its competitiveness,” President Rosen Plevneliev further commented at a briefing held together with Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, in Brussels. 

 

As for the risk of disrupting the gas transportation from Russia to Europe, the Head of State emphasized that after the gas crisis in the winter of 2009, Bulgaria has more opportunities to react, and it is essential that the reverse gas transit connections between Bulgaria and Greece and Romania be completed. Our country has enough gas reserves in the gas storage facility in Chiren, the president added.

 

In Bulgaria there is political will to conduct reforms in key sectors such as justice, healthcare, education, the pension system and the Security sector. The year 2015 will be a year of reforms and stability, Head of State Rosen Plevneliev further said. The President assured Jean-Claude Juncker that our country has adopted a clear plan in response to the conclusions made in the EC’s latest report under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism and by the end of the year considerable progress will be made. The EC president, for his part, voiced the Commission’s resolve to lift the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism by the end of the term in office of the current European Commission.

 

Rosen Plevneliev and Jean-Claude Juncker also discussed the opportunities for Bulgaria to take part in the EC strategic investment plan with projects. The Head of State and the EC president said that the relations between EC and Bulgaria are extremely constructive. “The first operational programs covering the 2014-2020 period have already been approved. Currently we have the ambition to act quickly, efficiently and transparently,” President Rosen Plevneliev further said at a joint briefing with Jean-Claude Juncker.

 

President Rosen Plevneliev and the President of the European Council Donald Tusk discussed the conflict in Ukraine and its impact on the Balkan region and on Europe. The two share the opinion that the changed situation requires that the EU member states be united and speak the same language when defending the European principles and values. Finding a sustainable political solution to the conflict depends on the strict fulfillment of the agreement reached in Minsk. 

 

European integration is the engine of the reforms and the democratic development of the Eastern European countries, the President further said at the meeting. In the Head of State’s view, Europe changes the whole region for the better.

 

As for Bulgaria’s accession to Schengen, the President reiterated that our country had met the technical requirements, voicing hopes that all EU member states will acknowledge this fact. 

 

Rosen Plevneliev and Donald Tusk further discussed the European Energy Union and its importance for achieving energy diversification and security in Europe.

 

Later on the Head of State will also hold talks with the King of Belgium Filip in the Royal Palace Laeken in Brussels.  

 

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