NEWS

Bulgaria must be and will remain a reliable partner in the transit of energy resources for Hungary, emphasised Head of State Rumen Radev during his meeting in Sofia with his Hungarian counterpart, Tamas Sulyok

 

Bulgaria and Hungary will continue to work together to comprehensively deepen the bilateral partnership and strengthen security and stability in Europe. This was the common position of President Rumen Radev and his Hungarian counterpart Tamas Sulyok, who held a meeting today in Sofia. Tamas Sulyok is on an official visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of the Bulgarian head of state. This year marks 105 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Hungary, and yesterday, the first day of the official visit, marked the Day of Bulgarian-Hungarian Friendship - October 19.

 

Earlier in the day, Tamas Sulyok was welcomed by Rumen Radev with a ceremony on St. Alexander Nevsky Square. In the St. Sophia Church, the two heads of state laid flowers in front of the memorial plaque for the Day of Bulgarian-Hungarian Friendship. Rumen Radev and Tamas Sulyok held a one-on-one meeting, after which they led plenary talks between the official delegations of the two countries.

 

Relations between Bulgaria and Hungary are developing positively and we share similar positions on a number of issues on the European and international agenda, President Rumen Radev emphasised in his statement after the plenary talks. The Bulgarian head of state recalled his visit to Hungary last year, noting that the visit of his Hungarian counterpart to our country is an excellent opportunity to build on the constructive dialogue between the two countries.

 

I congratulate President Sulyok for Hungary's rational and consistent position, from which it has not deviated, regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine, Rumen Radev said during the plenary talks. This is the position for peace through diplomacy, not through escalation in armament and continuation of the war, said the Bulgarian head of state and reiterated his position that this will lead to even more victims, even greater destruction and loss of territory in Ukraine. According to Rumen Radev, because of this rational position of Hungary, it is quite natural for Budapest to host the meeting between Presidents Trump and Putin, which everyone has been waiting for.

 

With its efforts to diversify natural gas supplies to the region and Europe and with the construction of new interconnectors with our neighbours, Bulgaria has already become an important centre of energy security, emphasised Rumen Radev. The head of state stated that Bulgaria must be and will remain a reliable partner in the transit of energy resources for Hungary. We also share the belief that nuclear energy is a reliable and sustainable source of energy that will influence the development of the EU, the president added.

 

Among the topics discussed during the talks was the process of European Union enlargement, with Rumen Radev pointing out that Bulgaria remains one of the important drivers for the European integration of the Western Balkan countries. Regarding the attempts of the Republic of North Macedonia (RNM) leadership to discredit Bulgaria for the delay in the country’s integration into the EU, President Radev stressed that our position remains unchanged – we adhere to the strict implementation of the 2022 European compromise by the RNM and we have no additional conditions beyond those included in this compromise. He called on the Hungarian side, which has traditionally friendly and upward economic relations with the RNM, to also help our southwestern neighbour to stop the pressure and discrimination against our compatriots and to implement the European consensus and include Bulgarians in its constitution, which is an irrevocable condition for starting negotiations for EU membership. The Bulgarian head of state emphasised that the positions of the two countries coincide on a number of other current issues on the EU agenda, such as the Common Agricultural Policy, the new Multiannual Financial Framework, as well as in terms of their strong reservations against the expanded use of qualified majority voting in decision-making by the EU Council, and especially in enlargement policy.

 

The President mentioned the upward development of trade and economic relations between Bulgaria and Hungary, noting that Hungary is among the leading foreign investors in our country and the trade exchange is showing sustainable growth. In the period January-May 2025, bilateral trade amounted to EUR 990.2 million, which represents an increase of 3.6% compared to the same period in 2024. We can benefit from Hungary's experience in attracting strategic investors from all over the world who are looking for both security for their business and ensuring the security of local citizens in European cities, the President pointed out during the talks.

 

Rumen Radev highlighted the common position of Bulgaria and Hungary that energy, transport, digital and scientific connectivity are an important condition for the economic development of the European Union. Therefore, the two countries are actively working in this area, as well as strengthening their cooperation in the fields of science, education, culture, industry, high technologies and high-value-added production.

 

The Bulgarian community in Hungary has been a strong bridge between our peoples for centuries, the head of state also noted and expressed gratitude for the inclusion of the leadership of the Society of Bulgarians in Hungary and the Bulgarian Republican Self-Government in Hungary in the official Hungarian delegation for the visit to our country. Rumen Radev highlighted the efforts of the Hungarian side to preserve the national identity and culture of the Bulgarians living in Hungary, as well as to preserve the Bulgarian military memory and military cemeteries in Hungary from the time of World War II. The President also recalled the importance of the opening in 2024 by him and President Tamas Sulyok of a Bulgarian Educational and Cultural Centre in Budapest. A few days ago, the traditions of Bulgarian gardening in Hungary were entered into the UNESCO National Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

 

The head of state noted the importance of Hungary's support for our country's membership in Schengen during the Hungarian presidency of the Council of the European Union. According to Rumen Radev, Bulgaria and Hungary cooperate fruitfully and constructively in the field of defence and security, the fight against cross-border crime, illegal migration and in protecting the external borders of the European Union.

 

Bulgaria is a very important ally for Hungary, and the friendship of President Rumen Radev is appreciated by both the entire Hungarian state and myself. This friendship and camaraderie are felt not only at the highest state level, but also in public and political relations in every aspect, Sulyok said.

 

He highlighted the importance of the partnership with Bulgaria in the transit of natural gas for Hungary and expressed his country's support for Bulgaria's imminent membership in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Regarding the EU enlargement with the Western Balkan countries, the Hungarian President pointed out that it is unacceptable to consider relations between Bulgaria and the RNM only in a bilateral plan, and that the EU should also be held responsible for the implementation of the agreed compromise - the inclusion of Bulgarians in the country's constitution.

 

According to the Hungarian President, war is not a solution to any conflict, whether it is the military conflict in Ukraine or the Middle East. We are extremely proud that Budapest will host the meeting between the Presidents of the United States and Russia, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, Sulyok added, expressing hope that it will be a step towards achieving a peaceful solution in Ukraine.

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