NEWS

Presidents Rumen Radev and Andrzej Duda: Improving Connectivity in Eastern Europe Is Key to the Economic and Investment Outlook of the Region

The Presidents of Bulgaria and Poland propose that February 14 be declared the Day of Bulgarian-Polish Friendship and Cooperation

Poland is an extremely important economic, trade and investment partner of Bulgaria, as evidenced by the growing bilateral trade. Therefore, Bulgaria will continue to work for the further development of connectivity in Eastern Europe in the North-South direction as a key prerequisite for promoting ties between business and tourism. This was stated by Head of State Rumen Radev, who today held a meeting in Sofia with his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda. Poland's president is on an official visit to the Republic of Bulgaria at the invitation of President Radev.

At the joint press conference of the two presidents, Rumen Radev highlighted the active political dialogue at the highest level between Bulgaria and Poland in recent years and emphasised that this is Andrzej Duda's fifth visit to our country. Bilateral cooperation is already yielding significant results in the economy, investments, transport, defence industry, agriculture, culture and education. The common position was that the direct air routes created from 13 Polish cities to Bulgaria stimulate both economic exchange and tourism, as well as people-to-people ties.

As a main challenge to strengthening the economic and investment partnership in Eastern Europe, Presidents Radev and Duda noted the poorer infrastructure connectivity in Central and Eastern Europe, compared to Western Europe. This affects both investors' decisions and the development of relations between local business representatives. In this regard, the two pointed to the importance of the Three Seas Initiative, the 10th anniversary of which was celebrated in Warsaw at the end of April. The format, which was initiated by the President of Poland Andrzej Duda and Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic in 2015, aims to catch up on the lag in infrastructure, digital, energy and transport connectivity. During the Bulgarian hosting in 2021, at the proposal of our country, cooperation was initiated to increase connectivity in science, research and innovation.

The President of Poland expressed gratitude to the Bulgarian side for the efforts made over the years in the field of connectivity, adding that they are an important element both for the development of cooperation within the framework of the "Three Seas" and for the future finalisation of the "Via Carpathia" Project.

Rumen Radev raised the issue of Bulgaria using Poland's experience in increasing transparency in the absorption of European funds for the construction of transport infrastructure and improving its quality, for which expert discussions are already underway.

The two presidents highly appreciated the cooperation between Bulgaria and Poland in the field of defence and discussed the prospects for its expansion in defence industry and science, joint production and maintenance of military equipment, including the F-16 fighter jets that Bulgaria is acquiring. President Radev noted the possibility of the two countries participating in joint defence projects within the European Union, which will also facilitate the attraction of financing.

The current challenges and risks to the security of Europe were also discussed during the meeting. President Radev once again stressed that it is of paramount importance to stop the bloodshed in Ukraine and achieve a sustainable and irreversible peace based on the principles of international law and the UN Charter. Therefore, peace initiatives in this direction should be supported by the European Union, which should present its own vision for restoring peace in Europe and fully participate in the process. For us, it remains a priority to continue working together to ensure the security of the European continent, our strategic autonomy, our ability to play an active role for more security, stability and economic prosperity,” Rumen Radev added.

The Bulgarian and Polish people are connected by strong cultural, spiritual and historical ties, Rumen Radev and Andrzej Duda also said at the meeting. In this regard, the two heads of state also proposed a joint initiative to declare February 14 the Day of Bulgarian-Polish Friendship and Cooperation. The date is dedicated to the work of the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius and their declaration by Polish Pope John Paul II as co-patrons of Europe.

Andrzej Duda and his wife Agata Kornhauser -Duda were welcomed by the Bulgarian President and his wife Desislava Radeva with an official ceremony at St Al. Nevsky Square, where the Polish President paid tribute to the Monument to the Unknown Soldier. The Bulgarian and Polish Presidents then held a one-on-one meeting and chaired the plenary talks between the official delegations of Bulgaria and Poland. Andrzej Duda's official visit is also a farewell visit at the end of his second term as President of the Republic of Poland.