NEWS

President Rumen Radev in Brussels: Bulgaria will defend its interests in the energy sector

Bulgaria will defend its interests in the energy sector. Today we are reaping the consequences of the negligence that lasted for more than 10 years, during which not a single base power plant was built in Bulgaria. This is what President Rumen Radev told reporters in Brussels on Thursday, where he attended the European Council meeting. In order to protect both domestic consumers and Bulgarian business, it is necessary to put an end to the whole vicious practice in the energy sector and establish transparency in public procurement, the Head of State stressed.

The idea that nuclear energy should be recognised as "green" energy is increasingly being imposed in the European Union, the President said. After 2040, when Bulgaria is expected to no longer be able to rely on its coal-fired power plants, nuclear energy is emerging as the main baseload power for this country, which is autonomous, stable and cheap.

The President said that the high price of carbon emissions of EUR 90 per tonne was holding back the development of the energy sector and the economy and that a solution to this problem needed to be sought. The reports requested and initiated by the European Council on how the EU energy exchanges and the emissions trading scheme function have been presented, but so far in a preliminary and incomplete form, the Head of State said. In his words, no speculation has been found in them, but the question remains as to what the increase in electricity prices is due to then, since the price of coal and nuclear fuel has not changed.

Rumen Radev held talks in Brussels with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, during which the continuation of Azerbaijani natural gas supplies to Bulgaria at some of the most affordable prices at the moment was discussed. According to the Bulgarian President, Azerbaijan is ready to discuss with the Bulgarian government the possibility of additional supplies of larger quantities of natural gas. The Head of State pointed out that it is extremely important that the gas link between Bulgaria and Greece, which has been pending for 10 years, is finally built. We spoke with Prime Minister Mitsotakis, who will visit Bulgaria on Monday, when we will be able to discuss this topic. I hope that next year Bulgaria will solve an issue so important for this country, President Rumen Radev stressed.

Responding to a query about the moratorium on electricity, heating and water prices adopted by the Bulgarian Parliament, the President stressed that it was necessary to keep it fully within the law and to conduct a thorough expert analysis. People should definitely be protected, but we should also think about the consequences on the functioning of the market afterwards, the Head of State further said.

The validity periods of the COVID-19 certificates should not be set by the European Council, as the main political body of the EU, but by the Council of the European Union in the format of health ministers. This position was expressed by the President during the European Council meeting, in connection with the European Commission's proposal to set a nine-month term for the Covid-19 certificate. On this issue, the Bulgarian Head of State received support from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Responding to a question about the European integration of the Republic of North Macedonia, the President said that this country's European partners now understand more clearly the crux of the matter - not only the protection of Bulgarian history and culture, but especially the respect of the rights of the Macedonian Bulgarians. This issue is not being raised today at this European Council, despite the great ambition to solve it right now, the Head of State specified. He highlighted the merit of Bulgarian diplomacy and the extensive communication campaign through repeated bilateral meetings at the highest level. Everywhere we have been very clear in defending and explaining our positions, the President said.

The Head of State stressed that it is extremely important to have a consensus on the issue in Bulgaria and added that he is constantly exchanging views with the prime minister. We both share the opinion that the interests of both Bulgaria and the European Union require the Western Balkans to integrate into the EU as soon as possible, the President said. In his words, this means that solutions should be sought to the problems that do not allow the door for negotiations to be opened to the Republic of North Macedonia. This process requires the unconditional application of the spirit and letter of the bilateral Treaty on Friendship, Good Neighbourliness and Cooperation signed in 2017. This means constitutional protection of the rights of the Macedonian Bulgarians, renunciation of hate speech and, of course, European guarantees for the irreversibility of this process by the Republic of North Macedonia, the President said.

The Head of State will convene a meeting of the Consultative Council for National Security, as the highest political body, which will make recommendations for reaching a consensus on the European integration of Bulgaria's south-western neighbour. Rumen Radev also called for a structured dialogue between the Bulgarian Parliament and the Parliament of the Republic of North Macedonia, which should become an important instrument for rapprochement and clarification of positions in the search for the best solutions. According to the President, it is in the interest of the whole region for the Republic of North Macedonia to start EU membership negotiations, but only if the Copenhagen criteria are met. If we manage to achieve this, it will be a historic act for both Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia. However, let us not forget that this process, both in terms of time and result, depends entirely on the candidate country. In this case it is not Bulgaria, but the Republic of North Macedonia, President Rumen Radev further said.