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Radev: Bulgaria Seeks Comprehensive Development of Transport and Energy Connectivity as a Key Factor for Stability in Southeast Europe

The Head of State meets with Foreign Minister of the Hellenic Republic

Bulgaria seeks the comprehensive development of transport and energy connectivity in the region as a key factor for stability in Southeast Europe. This is what Head of State Rumen Radev said at a meeting today in Sofia with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic, George Gerapetritis, who is on an official visit to Bulgaria. During the talks, the importance of the strategic partnership between Bulgaria and Greece was highlighted, and Radev and Gerapetritis stressed that the top-level active and constructive dialogue between the two countries is a prerequisite for deepening cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.

Not only the Bulgarian and Greek economies, but also the entire region is interested in improving the transport, energy and digital infrastructure in the South-North direction, the Head of State emphasised. President Radev highlighted the importance of the joint projects to build an oil pipeline between Alexandroupolis and Burgas, to increase the transit of natural gas to Europe through the gas interconnector between Greece and Bulgaria, to expand the volume of the gas storage facility in Chiren, to speed up the project to build the NATO oil pipeline from Greece to Bulgaria and Romania, to expand the railway networks, and to open the Rudozem-Xanthi BCP as soon as possible. Rumen Radev confirmed this country's interest in participating in the management of the ports of Kavala and Alexandroupolis. The current importance of trilateral infrastructure projects between Greece, Bulgaria and Romania in the context of regional and global challenges was also discussed.

During the meeting, the Head of State also expressed his gratitude for Greece's consistent support for Bulgaria's full accession to Schengen and the abolition of land border controls.