site.btaEnergy Diversification, Single European Market on Agenda of British Foreign Secretary's Talks in Sofia

Energy Diversification, Single European Market on Agenda of British Foreign Secretary's
Talks in Sofia


Sofia, January 14 (BTA) - British Foreign Secretary Philip 
Hammond, who arrived on an  official visit to Bulgaria on
Wednesday, talked to his Bulgarian counterpart Daniel Mitov and
President Rosen Plevneliev. Energy diversification, the Single
Energy Market and bilateral trade relations featured on the
agenda of the discussions.

Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov and  British Foreign Secretary
Philip Hammond, is here  at Mitov's  invitation,  made a joint
statement here following their meeting, the Foreign  Ministry
said in a press release. 

"Today we reaffirmed our commitment to deepen the cooperation 
between Bulgaria and the UK and to further develop our bilateral
  relations. Allies and partners in the EU and NATO, our 
countries share common values and a range of common interests. 
This is the backbone of our relationship in today's complex 
international environment," the statement says. 

Views were exchanged during the meeting on the escalation of 
terrorism and the need to deepen bilateral coordination to fight
  all its forms, including those coming from ISIL and other 
extremist organisations that recruit foreign fighters. "We 
condemn the terrorist attacks in Paris and express our full 
solidarity with the French people at this time," the two top 
diplomats said.

Bulgaria and the UK will continue to work together and with all
 Allies to implement the Wales NATO Summit commitments, in 
particular the Readiness Action Plan, in order for the Alliance
 to be fully prepared and ready to tackle 21st century security
 threats.

"We highlighted that as partners in the EU our countries 
cooperate to achieve the highest standards in justice. The 
Strategy on the Reform of the judiciary, adopted by the 
Bulgarian government, is an important step to achieving an 
efficient judiciary that functions in the interest of its 
people," the statement reads.  

Mitov and Hammond also pledge to continue their intensive 
dialogue and cooperation on the security and diversification of
 energy supplies in South-Eastern Europe and within the European
  Union.

Among the topics discussed during the meeting were the situation
  in Ukraine, the challenges and opportunities facing 
Southeastern Europe, developments in the Middle East and North 
Africa, as well as the important issues facing the EU and its 
Member States: the urgent need to complete Single markets in 
services (including financial services), digital and energy; 
applying proper measures for reducing the regulatory and 
administrative burden for businesses, especially medium and 
small enterprises; and increasing the level of investments, as 
well assigning ambitious free trade agreements, including the 
Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.

The top diplomats voiced hope that with the creation of the new
 British-Bulgarian Business Association trade relations will 
deepen trade and investment between both countries will 
increase.

The reform within the EU and cooperation between Bulgaria and
the United Kingdom within EU and NATO topped the agenda of the
talks between Plevneliev and Hammond, the President's Press
Secretariat said.

The two declared themselves in favour of accelerated measures
for the completion of the Single European Market, which will
render the EU more competitive after the period of economic and
financial crisis and will ensure growth and new jobs. The Union
needs to reform for the purpose of enhancing the efficiency of
the European institutions, easing regulations and restructuring
the labour market. The EU should reform itself in order to keep
the confidence of the European citizens and meet the challenges
of the 21st century, the guest commented.

Plevneliev and Hammond discussed the energy security of Europe
and, in particular, of the countries of Southeastern Europe. The
 sides underscored the need of accelerated diversification of
sources and the routes for the supply of energy resources noting
 that the European Commission's Investment Plan for Europe can
be used for this purpose. It transpired at the meeting that
Bulgaria will count on British support for the financing of
projects on energy connectors, with which the country will apply
 for financing before the European Commission.  

The British Foreign Secretary raised the issue for the meeting
of Bulgaria's commitments in relation to the defence costs
undertaken at the NATO summit in Wales in September 2014.
President Plevneliev agreed that the budgeted defence costs for
2015 do not correspond to the commitments undertaken before the
allies and voiced hope that additional resources for the
modernization of the armed forces will be provided.