29.01.2021
Congratulations to all who made this historic step possible, especially to Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and the Nuclear Energy Agency team, said OECD Secretary-General Ángel Gurria at the online ceremony on the occasion of Bulgaria’s accession to the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). „Today is a very important day not just for Bulgaria and the whole NEA family but also for the OECD. This is an outcome of our continuing efforts to make the organization more global and more inclusive,” Mr. Gurria added. “The OECD Secretary-General noted that Bulgaria is an active player in the global nuclear energy field. The accession to the NEA acknowledges Bulgaria’s significant effort to implement the highest standards in the nuclear energy policies and programs. It recognizes that you share the values of NEA membership, responding to growing energy needs, while ensuring security and safety and addressing climate change,” the OECD Secretary-General Ángel Gurria went on to say. He was firm that Bulgaria’s NEA membership would be of benefit to all member states and that the NEA would draw on Bulgaria’s extensive experience while Bulgaria would draw additional ideas from the NEA activities and the vast pool of international experts.
“Following Bulgaria’s entry into the ERM II, the EU banking union, today we have a reason to sum up and celebrate,” Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said. He thanked the OECD for their friendship, expertise and goodwill to Bulgaria and noted that today’s event is fair recognition for the tremendous work done. “I thank OECD Secretary-General Ángel Gurria for the great friendship and for our top-level meetings,” Prime Minister Borissov said further. Bulgaria’s Prime Minister noted that Bulgaria became the 34th member of the Nuclear Energy Agency, which brings together countries that operate almost 90% of installed nuclear capacities in the world. “Bulgaria counts on its nuclear potentials and has set an example of how to decommission four units, how to store spent nuclear fuel and currently we are intensively developing the project of the seventh unit of the Kozloduy NPP,” Prime Minister Boyko Borissov added.
“Bulgaria’s accession to the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency is a firm proof of the shape of the Bulgarian energy sector where highest safety standards apply,” said Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova at the online ceremony. In her words, the EU target of net-zero emissions in the energy generation by 2050 is unachievable if nuclear power is to be excluded. “Bulgaria stands ready to make a contribution of its own to the joint work with the Nuclear Energy Agency,” Mrs. Petkova declared.
NEA Director-General William Magwood congratulated Bulgaria on its accession to the NEA and expressed hope for joint work on a wide range of issues.
