site.btaPresident Plevneliev Attends10th Arraiolos Group Meeting

President Plevneliev
Attends
10th Arraiolos Group Meeting


Sofia, September 29 (BTA) - President Rosen Plevneliev is taking
part in the tenth informal meeting of Arraiolos Group leaders
in Braga, Portugal, on September 28-29, Plevneliev's press
secretariat said.

Attending the forum are the leaders of Portugal, Austria,
Germany, Latvia, Poland, Hungary, Finland and Estonia. Issues in
the focus of the forum include energy, immigration and the
role of research and innovation to boosting growth and
competitiveness and creating new jobs.

Energy efficiency is the main driving engine behind
competitiveness, President Plevneliev said at a discussion on
energy issues within the forum. He noted, however, that energy
should be used not as a weapon but as a resource that can be
traded. The Head of State noted that Bulgaria supports the South
Stream gas pipeline project but that it should meet the
requirements of the Third Energy Package and the European rules.
"Unfortunately, the project is implemented in Bulgaria even
without a concluded contract on transit fees," Plevneliev said.

According to him, the construction of the inter-connectors is
the most important thing for Bulgaria at present. The President
recalled that the system of inter-connectors is an integral part
of the South Gas Corridor, the construction of which was
recently launched in Baku. Through the inter-connectors with
Turkey and Greece, Bulgaria will connect to the Trans Adriatic
Pipeline, which is a part of the South Gas Corridor and this
would allow the supply of 1,000 million cu.m. of gas agreed with
Azerbaijan.

The presidents, attending the meeting, supported Poland's idea
on the establishment of an EU energy union. Today, the EU
countries are untied and will guarantee the European citizens
the possibility to receive energy at competitive prices from
different sources, said Plevneliev.

On the sidelines of the meeting, President Plevneliev met his
Portuguese counterpart Anibal Cavaco Silva. The two discussed
their countries' experience in the absorption of EU funds.

The region of Southeastern Europe should be more actively
present in the EU agenda, said Plevneliev. He also spoke in
favour of strengthening European integration because not the
region has been developing and making hard efforts to establish
itself as common market being attractive for investors. LI/PP,
TK/.