NEWS

Rosen Plevneliev in Belgrade: Bulgaria Has Always Supported South Stream Provided That EU Rules Are Observed

A political consensus has been reached in Bulgaria and our country has always supported the implementation of the South Stream project provided that EU rules are observed. This is what President Rosen Plevneliev said in Belgrade after he held talks with his Serbian counterpart Tomislav Nikolic. “The big problem South Stream is facing is the Third Energy Liberalization Package and Russia’s reluctance to comply with its implementation,” the Head of State recalled and said that Bulgaria is ready to start the construction of the gas pipeline in case the European Commission and Russia agree to bring it in compliance with the European legislation.

Our country is ready to resume the work on the European Nabucco-West project on the transit of natural gas from Azerbaijan to Europe, President Plevneliev said. “Bulgaria should not allow for the violation of European legislation on Bulgarian territory. Diversification ensures different suppliers and market prices,” the Head of State further commented.

President Tomislav Nikolic, for his part, voiced optimism about the implementation of South Stream and reiterated Serbia’s willingness to have the gas pipeline constructed on its territory.

Presidents Rosen Plevneliev and Tomislav Nikolic commented on the opportunities for Bulgaria and Serbia to work with a view to promoting the bilateral investments and make joint attempts to enter the markets of third countries. In the Bulgarian President’s view, there are real conditions for this to happen and the EU Danube Strategy provides a lot of opportunities in this respect. “We can position the Danube region as a common tourist product, with common tourist routes, for instance a bicycle track along the Bulgarian and Serbian sections of the Danube,” Rosen Plevneliev said. The establishment of a common tourist office of Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania in third countries is also discussed. The Head of State further emphasized that an increasing number of Bulgarian companies have been entering the Serbian market and creating more jobs.

The opportunities for encouraging new business partnerships will be discussed at an economic forum with representatives of the Serbian and Bulgarian business circles on the second day of Head of State Rosen Plevneliev’s visit to Belgrade.

The development of the transport and energy connectivity between Bulgaria and Serbia was the major topic discussed at the talks held between Rosen Plevneliev and Serbian prime Minister Alexander Vucic. The two debated the reforms in Serbia in the process of preparing to join the EU and the experience Bulgaria has in the negotiation process with the EU.

Rosen Plevneliev and Alexander Vucic highlighted the necessity to speed up the implementation of the Program for cross-border cooperation between the two countries, including projects in the border region. At the meeting held with President Rosen Plevneliev, the Speaker of Serbia’s National Assembly,  Maja Gojkovic, said that the relations between the two countries’ parliaments have the potential to improve so efforts should be put into strengthening them.

In Belgrade President Rosen Plevneliev laid a wreath in front of the Monument to the Unknown Soldier.