NEWS

Bulgaria is counting on Bavaria for support at all political levels for the country to have a two-phase accession to Schengen

Bavaria today congratulated Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev on his country’s excellent macro-economic indicators. The President, who is on a working visit to Germany, today met the Minister-President of the Free State of Bavaria Horst Seehofer, Chairman of the Parliament Barbara Stamm and Minister of Federal and European Affairs Emilia Müller.

Bulgaria’s excellent economic performance is due to strict financial discipline and consistent reforms, President Plevneliev underlined during a meeting with Minister-President Seehofer. President Plevneliev reiterated his position that each EU Member State should independently solve problems without relying solely on European solidarity. He said that Bulgaria has set itself the priority of developing high-tech industries and could draw on the successful experience of Bavaria, which has significantly increased its competitiveness in recent years.

President Plevneliev discussed gas supply diversification projects with the Bavarian Minister-President, who also holds the rotating presidency of the German Bundesrat. President Plevneliev briefed Minister-President Seehofer on work on gas interconnection arrangements that Bulgaria will build with neighbouring countries. The conversation focused on the Nabucco West project and the possibility of Bavaria participating in implementing it. The President and the Minister-President agreed that a higher level of activity was needed on the part of the countries taking part in the project.

At his meetings in Bavaria, President Plevneliev raised the issue of Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen visa zone. Bulgaria is counting on Bavaria for political support at all levels for Bulgaria’s two-phase accession to Schengen. “Bulgaria has done its job and we insist that success should be recognised,” the President underlined.

Highlights of President Plevneliev’s talks in Bavaria included possibilities for implementing joint projects under the EU Strategy for the Danube Region. He said that only seven per cent of the shipping capacity of the Danube is being used, although the river connects 11 countries. At the same time, 70 per cent of the capacity of the Rhine is used, President Plevneliev said. He said that through Danube Strategy projects and the resources provided through the Connecting Europe mechanism, shipping on the Danube could reach more than 20 per cent.

Regarding the future of the EU’s Cohesion Policy, President Plevneliev made it clear that a growth policy oriented towards less developed regions was particularly relevant in Europe. At the same time, this should not happen at the expense of new debt, he said.

Today, the President will meet with representatives of the Board of BMW and will participate in a round table discussion on the investment climate in Bulgaria. The programme also includes meetings between the President and representatives of companies in the computing and automotive clusters.