site.btaPresident Radev: Southeast European Countries Should Encourage Dialogue On Common Challenges, Prospects for the Region

At the South East Europe Cooperation Process (SEECP) Summit in Podgorica, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev highlighted connectivity as the key to stability and economic prosperity of Southeast Europe, the Presidency said Tuesday.

"Whether the countries of South-Eastern Europe are members of the European Union or have declared their ambition to join the EU, ensuring the stability, security and prosperity of the region are common goals for all of us", said President Radev, who participated at the invitation of his counterpart President Jakov Milatovic in the SEECP Summit. The event marks the end of Montenegro's rotating presidency of the format. Bulgaria initiated the establishment of the SEECP, which was launched in 1996 in Sofia.

President Radev stressed that the stable development of the European Union depends on the stability and security of the Balkans. Therefore, the countries of the region need more instruments to support regional cooperation. The Head of State highlighted the EU enlargement process as the most effective instrument in this regard, which has made a huge contribution to the consolidation of democratic principles, the rule of law, respect for human rights, connectivity, creation of a new investment climate throughout the region and economic prospects.

Radev said that the energy crisis resulting from Russia's war against Ukraine has severely affected Southeastern Europe and has made it necessary to pool the efforts and resources of individual countries. What Bulgaria has achieved since the beginning of the crisis - the commissioning of the interconnector with Greece and the expected completion of the interconnector with Serbia by the end of this year, the access to the liquefied natural gas terminals and the gas transmission networks of Greece and Turkey, as well as the Solidarity ring initiative for increased gas transmission from Azerbaijan to Europe - is a real step towards energy diversification not only for our country but for the whole region. The President also noted Bulgaria's contribution to overcoming the energy crisis in the neighbouring RMS by exporting electricity, as well as the development of a financial mechanism by the European Commission to support the Western Balkan countries.

"That is why connectivity is the key to stability and economic prosperity of Southeast Europe," Radev stressed. In this regard, the President also called for the accelerated construction of the transport corridors that connect the different countries in Southeast Europe and which have long been awaiting their implementation, such as transport Corridor No 8.

In his speech at the summit, the Head of State also expressed Bulgaria's readiness to host the regional initiative in 2025-2026, so that the 30th anniversary of the political dialogue and cooperation format, which was established on Bulgaria's initiative, would be celebrated in Sofia.