site.btaBulgaria, Austria Sign Programme for Cooperation in Culture, Education, Science and Youth

Bulgaria, Austria Sign Programme for Cooperation in Culture, Education, Science and Youth

Vienna, March 15 (BTA Exclusive by Tsvetana Delibaltova) - A four-year programme for the period 2017-2021 to the Agreement on Cooperation in Culture, Education, Science and Youth between the governments of Bulgaria and Austria was signed in Vienna on Tuesday by the two countries foreign ministers - of Bulgaria Radi Naidenov and of Austria Sebastian Kurz. Naidenov was on a working visit to Vienna.

After the signing ceremony, Minister Kurz voiced satisfaction with the good economic and political cooperation between the two countries. With a view to the upcoming presidencies of the EU Council by the two countries next year, the two counterparts discussed the tasks facing the Community. The purpose of the Austrian Presidency will be to make the EU stronger in foreign political and economic terms parallel to the procedures of UK's withdrawal, the Austrian top diplomat said. At the same time, regarding national issues, the EU should step back and they should be settled by the separate countries, he added.

He noted the necessity of strengthening Frontex and the participation of each of the member state with personnel and co-financing.

On his part, Minister Radev identified the modernization of Europe and guaranteeing of its future as a common goal, for the sake of which the member states should stand united after Brexit. He identified the conducting of a meaningful dialogue, taking of efficient decisions and pooling of the efforts to strengthen Europe as priorities. He praised the good bilateral relations and the two countries' contribution to multilateral cooperation quoting as an example the Danube Region initiatives.