26.02.2020
Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and his delegation arrived in Greece, where the Fourth High Level Cooperation Council between the governments of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Hellenic Republic will take place. The Prime Minister was welcomed in Alexandroupoli by the Greek Foreign Minister Nikolaos Dendias. In the framework of the meeting today Prime Minister Borissov and his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis will take part in bilateral talks. The previous meeting of the two heads of government took place in November last year at the Thessaloniki Economic Forum.
Today's intergovernmental meeting will help to strengthen the ties between the two countries so a higher level in their strategic relations can be reached. Issues and projects of mutual interest will be discussed and joint priorities of the two countries aimed at achieving higher economic growth, cohesion, stability and security in the region will be considered. In the context of marking the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Greece in 2020, the two sides will also have the opportunity to send a strong message of cooperation and good neighborliness. Bulgaria and Greece provide a clear example of how to successfully overcome the historical overlaps and build trust and partnership in the spirit of shared European and Euro-Atlantic values.
Bulgaria attaches a priority to the development of bilateral energy relations with Greece. There is active cooperation between the two countries in the energy sector, including in the implementation of major projects of regional and pan-European importance. One of Bulgaria's main priorities is to ensure energy security and diversify gas sources and routes, not only nationally but also regionally.
The Greece-Bulgaria interconnector (IGB) will provide diversification not only of routes but also of natural gas sources for Bulgaria and the SEE region. A part of the development of the Southern Gas Corridor is that through it Bulgaria and the region will have access to alternative supplies from the Caspian region. The project is also important because of the possibility of importing natural gas from the existing and planned new LNG terminal in Greece.
Bulgaria considers in synergy the IGB project and the project for the construction of a liquefied natural gas terminal near Alexandroupoli, in which our country has declared a 20% shareholding. The main gas suppliers to the Alexandroupoli terminal are expected to be LNG exporters originating in the USA, Qatar, Algeria, Nigeria and other LNG producers. Last but not least, the terminal will help to realize the overall concept of the Balkan hub, as well as to promote a transparent, liquid and reliable natural gas market in the country.
Another project of utmost importance is the construction of an interconnector between Maritsa East Substation, Bulgaria, and Nea Santa Substation, Greece. The connection is part of the implementation of the North-South priority electricity corridor. The construction of the interconnector will improve the interoperability and safe function of the electricity system in the southern parts of the Balkan Peninsula.
Work is also underway on the project to create an intermodal railway corridor "Thessaloniki-Kavala-Alexandroupoli-Burgas-Varna-Rousse", and the results of the bilateral working group on the creation of a Joint Project Company for the implementation of the project are expected.
In January this year, the first dig was made at the Rudozem-Xanthi border checkpoint, the opening of which will promote the development of the border area and is generally in the interest of the development of bilateral trade and tourist exchanges between the two countries.
Greece ranks fifth among Bulgaria's trading partners in exports and sixth in imports. There is an upward trend in commodity exchange, which in the January-October 2019 period increased by 9.3% compared to the same period of 2018, amounting to approximately EUR 3 billion. Greece is among the top five leading investors in Bulgaria.
Within the European Union and NATO, Bulgaria and Greece also cooperate very actively. The situation in SEE and the wider region, as well as the European integration of the Western Balkans, are priorities for both countries. Our country is also showing strong interest in cooperation with Greece on issues such as migration, climate change and tourism.
