site.btaPresident Radev Confers with European Commission Executive Vice-President Vestager

July 9 (BTA) - Bulgarian President Rumen Radev conferred
here on Friday with European Commission Executive Vice-President
 Margrethe Vestager, who is in Sofia for the Sixth Three Seas
Initiative Summit, the head of State's Press Secretariat
reported.

"The National Recovery and Resilience Plan, revised by
Bulgaria's caretaker Cabinet, stakes on modernization with a
focus on green and digital economy, healthcare and education.
The implementation of the projects envisaged in the plan seeks
to achieve long-term results benefiting people rather than a
mere absorption of EU funds," Radev told Vestager.

The head of State pointed out during the meeting that Bulgaria
has revised its Recovery and Resilience Plan in line with the EU
 support for the green and digital transition that would give
the country sustainable economic prospects. The revised draft is
 to be submitted to public consultation, after which it will be
laid before the next Parliament for approval, the President
said.

Radev and Vestager were unanimous that in order to be
implemented effectively, the plan should enjoy broad political
and public support before being sent to Brussels for approval.

At the meeting, the head of State and the European Commission
Executive Vice-President also discussed the transition to a
climate neutral economy and the Commission's emission reduction
targets. "Member States should have clear prospects when they
embark on this transition, so that each country could avoid
undesired risks to its economy. The social and economic impact
should be taken into account, too," Radev pointed out. He added
that it would be onerous for Bulgaria to give up its baseline
generating capacities without an alternative already in place.

The two also discussed the European perspective of the Republic
of North Macedonia. "No other EU country attaches greater
importance to this topic because the citizens on either side of
the border with North Macedonia are brothers sharing a common
history," the President said. He pointed out that the dialogue
between Sofia and Skopje is crucial for achieving progress in
the European integration of Bulgaria's southwestern neighbour.
"This is the only way to achieve a tangible, sustained and
irreversible track record leading up to the start of EU
accession negotiations by the Republic of North Macedonia,"
Radev went on to say. RY/LG

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