NEWS

Bulgaria and Slovenia Support the European Prospects of their Western Balkan Neighbors

Presidents Rumen Radev and Borut Pahor called on the European institutions to provide financial support for the transport, energy and digital connectivity projects in the region

The improvement of the transport, energy and digital connectivity in Southeastern Europe is of key importance for strengthening regional integration, boosting the economic and cultural exchange and is an important step towards EU integration. This was the common stance shared by the Presidents of Bulgaria and Slovenia Rumen Radev and Borut Pahor, who held a meeting at 2 Dondukov street today. President Pahor is on an official visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of the Bulgarian Head of State.

The two Presidents were unanimous that the Western Balkan region requires an unswerving commitment on the part of the European institutions. The projects on improving the connectivity between the individual countries should receive the necessary financial support. “I would like especially to thank you for personally opening the new direct flight between Ljubljana and Sofia, which will not only give a new impetus to tourism, but will also boost our economic relations, and most importantly, will ensure the direct connection between our two peoples,” Rumen Radev said.

Bulgaria and Slovenia are located on both sides of the fragile region of the Western Balkans and it is essential that these two countries contribute to the stability and security in the region, and set a personal example of a friendly and positive development of their bilateral relations, it further transpired at the meeting.

The two Presidents highlighted that Bulgaria and Slovenia have a beneficial political dialogue at different levels which is a good condition for the development of the relations in all remaining spheres – economy, education, culture, tourism, investments. Rumen Radev noted the good cultural and educational bilateral ties and also the intense activity of the lectureships in the Slovenian and Bulgarian languages at Sofia University and the University of Ljubljana.

“For Bulgaria the Republic of Slovenia’s experience in achieving one of the highest rates of economic growth in the EU, in ensuring a high standard and quality of life for the Slovenians, and in attracting strategic investors in key sectors of the economy, is considerably important ,” Rumen Radev said. The Bulgarian Head of State extended gratitude to President Pahor for sharing Slovenia’s experience in achieving national reconciliation whereby the country proved that progress can be achieved and we can think successfully about the present and the future if there is reconciliation with the past in society.

Opinions on the EU’s development after Brexit, achieving a greater economic convergence between East and West Europe, the EU policy on migration, enlarging the Eurozone, and also Bulgaria’s Schengen accession were exchanged at the meeting. President Radev highlighted Bulgaria’s interest in preserving the Cohesion policy in the next multiannual financial framework as a factor ensuring economic growth. The Bulgarian Head of State called for strengthening the joint cooperation in protecting the external EU borders and providing purposeful assistance to the countries located along the external European borders.

Both Rumen Radev and Borut Pahor emphasized that the EU should pursue a more active policy in the Middle East and North Africa on securing ceasefire and should support the resolution of the economic and social problems in the countries from these regions, which will also curb the migration flows towards Europe.

The official welcoming ceremony for Slovenia’s President was held at the St. Alexander Nevski square. Afterwards President Borut Pahor laid a wreath in front of the Monument of the Unknown Soldier. The two Presidents also held a meeting in private at 2 Dondukov street.