Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Bulgaria confirms commitment to Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina European integration

Photo: BTA

Earlier this week, President Rosen Plevneliev paid official visits to Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The European future of the Western Balkan countries, regional cooperation in Southeast Europe, energy diversification, economic and investment cooperation and partnership in security were central to the talks of the Bulgarian head of state with Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga and with the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina Mladen Ivanic.

The key political message that the Bulgarian president conveyed during this mini-Balkan tour was that the European integration of the Western Balkan countries provides firm ground for stability and prosperity in the region. Plevneliev repeatedly said that Bulgaria had always been consistent in supporting the European future of its neighbors and that the completion of talks for the signature of a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union was an important step in the process of European integration of both Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina. On many occasions the Bulgarian president confirmed readiness to share this country’s experience across all aspects of the integration process.

Another important message in the sphere of economy was that together, the countries of Southeast Europe could build modern energy and transport infrastructures and with support from the European Union boost Balkan unity. „Our ambition is to make sure that the creation of a European Energy Union starts from the Balkans since this will guarantee access of every country from the region to three alternative natural gas sources. The inception of a regional energy market should become a common priority for Southeast Europe”, Plevneliev said. Discussions of various options for expansion of economic cooperation were no less important than the political aspect of the visits to the two Balkan countries. After all, economic integration is the best catalyst of integration in general.

English Daniela Konstantinova




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Assen Vassilev

PP-DB will negotiate government with GERB only if it signs health cordon around Peevski

"We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB), the second largest parliamentary group, has said that it will support the formation of a regular government only if GERB-SDS agrees to sign the PP-DB declaration calling for a "cordon sanitaire"..

published on 12/8/24 5:54 PM
Denitsa Sacheva

Boyko Borissov is our candidate for prime minister, GERB's Sacheva says

The GERB party has already made every possible compromise . Now it is the turn of other political forces to show statesmanship, because they are also responsible for what will happen in Bulgaria, Denitsa Sacheva, deputy leader of the GERB-SDS..

published on 12/8/24 3:17 PM
Dragomir Stoynev

Dragomir Stoynev, BSP: The political crisis has not yet been resolved

Dragomir Stoynev, an MP from the BSP-United Left coalition, told BNR that the election of the parliamentary speaker was an agreement between political forces to stabilise the political situation. On 6 December, St Nicholas' Day, the 51st National..

published on 12/8/24 12:26 PM