21.02.2024
Congratulations on the Bulgarian government’s reforms made in the past eight months and firm support for Bulgaria’s foreign policy priorities – the accession to Schengen, the Eurozone and the OECD – were expressed by the President of France Emmanuel Macron at his meeting with Prime Minister Acad. Nikolai Denkov in Paris. “All Europe sees these successes. President Macron specifically emphasized that he very much hopes that this would continue in the next period as well,” Bulgaria’s Prime Minister stated for the media after the discussion at the Palais de l'Élysée. Your successes are successes of Europe, and therefore we will support in in all that you identify as your priority. With this statement, President Macron expressed his support at the meeting with Acad. Denkov. Their meeting, which lasted longer than scheduled, discussed issues that are important both for bilateral relations and for Europe as a whole.
Among the points discussed, Prime Minister Acad. Nikolai Denkov singled out European security and the development of a clear-cut defense strategy on how Europe is to defend itself against an invasion, if any such, by Russia. “This is an important matter that is already being discussed very seriously in Europe,” the Prime Minister said. From this perspective, it is important for France to have a reliable ally on NATO’s southeast flank and the country stands ready to work together with Bulgaria to build a common capability in our defense industry.
Energy was another item on the Denkov-Macron agenda. “We discussed how to promote the development of the Bulgarian energy sector, on the one hand, and on the other, how to work together to train operations personnel for the whole region,” Acad. Denkov said. Opportunities for the development of hydropower projects in Bulgaria were discussed, inter alia, at the meeting.
Implementation of culture projects was another focus of the meeting of the Prime Minister of Bulgaria with the President of France. More detailed talks are to be held in the months to come, including, inter alia, the project for the St. Cyr and St. Julitte Island near Sozopol.
Firm support for Bulgaria’s accession to the Eurozone on 1 January 2025 was expressed by Bruno Le Maire, Minister of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty of the French Republic with whom Finance Minister Assen Vassilev and Energy Minister Rumen Radev met and talked in Paris. Rumen Radev and Bruno Le Maire signed a Declaration of Intent for cooperation in the field of nuclear power for civilian purposes between the two countries.
