site.btaAustrian President Alexander Van der Bellen Pays Official Visit to Bulgaria

Sofia, May 3 (BTA) - Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen arrived Thursday on an official visit to Bulgaria and conferred with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and Prime Minister Boyko Borissov. The guest is scheduled to visit the city of Rousse (on the Danube) on Friday for an informal meeting of the presidents of Bulgaria, Romania and Austria. The latter two countries will take turns holding the EU Presidency after Bulgaria.

Speaking at a joint news conference with his Austrian counterpart, President Radev said he believes that European security and defence are an absolute priority, but there is a risk for division within Europe to deepen without cohesion and true convergence.

This is why Bulgaria believes that the last thing that can be reduced are the funds for cohesion, Radev commented the European Commission's idea to increase security spending in the next EU budget period and reduce funding for cohesion and agriculture.

According to Van Der Bellen, the funds for solidarity and cooperation within the EU are not only in the interest of recipient countries, but also in the interest of the countries from which they come. They have an interest in continuing the processes for reducing the disparities between EU countries, he added, noting the problem with the deficit after Brexit.

Answering a question about the possibility of tying EU funds with the rule of law, President Radev said that he would appreciate it if EU funds were tied to mechanisms for monitoring and observing the rule of law, adding that such mechanisms can objective but also have a subjective aspect. He recalled the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism for Bulgaria, noting that not all reports are objective.

Radev said that he and the Austrian President discussed the external challenges facing the EU. Commenting the common European policy towards Russia, Radev said that his upcoming visit to Russia in the second half of May, French President Macron's scheduled visit at around the same time, and the Russian President's visit to Vienna at the beginning of June, all come to show that "we are truly implementing a common policy towards Russia, which is to seek all possibilities for maintaining open dialogue and developing projects of mutual interest".

President Van der Bellen said that he discussed with Radev various foreign policy topics, which concern both sides, especially the situation in Turkey and ties with Russia. According to him, diplomatic visits and dialogue with Russia should be continued. "Our position is very close to Bulgaria's position," the Austrian Head of State commented.

Radev recalled that this is his third meeting with the Austrian President in the past seven months, which is evidence of the two countries' increased interest and will to deepen and develop their relations, adding that bilateral relations have always been based on friendship and mutual trust. Visible trade already exceeds 1.2 billion euro, and Austria is a leading foreign investor in Bulgaria, he said. Radev noted that the Austrian President's official visit is the culmination of an intense period from the bilateral agenda, which includes visits by Austria's Federal Chancellor and Foreign Minister. The two countries are interacting and cooperating intensively within the EU Presidency trio, he went on to say.

The two presidents also discussed the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy, Permanent Structured Cooperation and the European Defence Fund as new effective mechanisms for improved security and integration within the European defence industry. The challenges stemming from the migrant crisis and the need for reforming the Common European Asylum System were also discussed.

Radev noted that the Danube Strategy and the perspectives for countries from the Danube region are also important topics, adding that he and his Austrian counterpart have agreed that the Strategy should be revived. The Western Balkans remain a main priority, but that does not mean that attention and resources will be concentrated only there, the Bulgarian President explained.

President Alexander Van der Bellen praised te Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council. He underscored the excellent bilateral relations, the proximity between the two countries, the historical ties and strategic partnership within the EU. The Austrian President voiced hope that the upcoming Western Balkans summit later in May will lead to progress. "We appreciate Bulgaria's efforts related to the EU external border's protection and hope that they will be recognized," he commented the question of Bulgaria's Schengen accession.

The visiting Austrian head of State also conferred with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, Cabinet's press service reported.

The two discussed the situation in the Balkans and the perspectives of the countries from the region to achieve stability, transport and digital connectivity, and economic growth.

Borissov has informed President Van der Bellen about his meetings with leaders from the region, as well as the international financial institutions that are committed to the implementation of infrastructure projects in the Balkans. The opportunities provided by the Danube Strategy as an instrument for encouraging economic growth and ties between the countries were also discussed.

Borissov and Van der Bellen talked about the development of bilateral trade and economic relations. The close to 7 per cent growth in exports to Austria last year was noted, together with the good partnership between Bulgarian and Austrian companies in fields of infrastructure and communications.