At the SEECP Summit in Podgorica the Bulgarian President highlights connectivity as the key to stability and economic prosperity of Southeast Europe
Whether the countries of South-Eastern Europe are members of the European Union or have declared their ambition to join United Europe, ensuring the stability, security and prosperity of the region are common goals for all of us President Rumen Radev said, who participated at the invitation of his counterpart President Jakov Milatovic in the Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the countries participating in the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP). The summit in Podgorica marks the end of Montenegro's rotating presidency of the format. Bulgaria initiated the SEECP establishment, which was launched in 1996 in Sofia.
In his address at the forum, President Radev stressed that the stable development of the European Union depended on the stability and security of the Balkans. Consequently, the countries of the region need more instruments to support regional cooperation. The head of state highlighted the EU enlargement process as the most effective instrument in this regard, which has made a huge contribution to the consolidation of democratic principles, the rule of law, respect for human rights, connectivity, the creation of a new investment climate throughout the region and economic prospects. Whether we as a region will be able to benefit from these opportunities depends only on us, Rumen Radev stressed.
He recalled that the energy crisis resulting from Russian Federation's war on Ukraine has severely affected Southeastern Europe and has made it necessary to pool the efforts as well as the resources of individual countries. What Bulgaria has achieved since the beginning of the crisis - the commissioning of the interconnector with Greece and the expected completion of the interconnector with Serbia by the end of this year, the access to the liquefied natural gas terminals and the gas transmission networks of Greece and Turkey, as well as the Solidarity Ring initiative for increased transmission of natural gas from Azerbaijan to Europe - is a real step towards energy diversification not only for this country but for the whole region. The President also noted this country's contribution to overcoming the energy crisis in the neighbouring Republic of North Macedonia through electricity exports, as well as the development of a financial mechanism by the European Commission to support the Western Balkan countries.
That is why connectivity is the key to stability and economic prosperity of Southeast Europe, Rumen Radev stressed. He also pointed out that connectivity is another opportunity for free communication, for understanding the cultural code of the peoples of the Balkans, for their mutual acceptance. In this regard, the President also called for the accelerated construction of the transport corridors that connect the different countries in Southeastern Europe, which have long been awaiting their implementation, such as transport corridor No 8.
The great importance of expanding the regional digital infrastructure that carries the "commodity of the future" - information, was also pointed out by the President. Rumen Radev stressed that it is high time the countries of the region, which are strategically located and connect Europe and Asia, make the most of the benefits, including in the field of information.
In his speech at the summit, the Head of State also expressed this country's readiness to host the regional initiative in 2025-2026, so that the 30th anniversary of the political dialogue and cooperation format initiated by Bulgaria would be celebrated in Sofia.
The participants in the forum today adopted a joint declaration: