site.btaPresidents of Bulgaria and Croatia Meet in Sofia

Sofia, April 4 (BTA) - "Bulgaria managed to bring the EU's focus back onto the Western Balkans," President Rumen Radev said on Wednesday, speaking at a joint news conference with Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, who was paying an official visit to Bulgaria. Radev said: "I have told EU leaders on more than one occasion that unless we give European prospects to the Western Balkans, they will ultimately give Balkan prospects to Europe. We have met with complete understanding [from the EU]."

Grabar-Kitarovic said Croatia favours EU and NATO membership for all its neighbours after they meet the requirements. She said: "I am a little frustrated by the events of the last few years. The process has been delayed. On the one hand, there is enlargement fatigue, and on the other hand, there is reform fatigue." The national reforms required for EU membership need a fresh impetus, she said, adding that EU leaders have recently given positive signs about the prospects of the Western Balkans.

During their meeting, Radev and Grabar-Kitarovic discussed ways to boost Bulgaria's trade and economic partnership with Croatia, plans for a bilateral business forum, and the role of transport connectivity, including the establishment of a scheduled air service between Sofia and Zagreb.

According to Radev, the 100 million euro in annual trade between Bulgaria and Croatia is a relatively good achievement but it is far below the potential of the two dynamic economies. He also stressed the importance of cooperation in culture and education.

Radev finds that Bulgaria's cooperation with Croatia is important because the two countries are situated on each side of the vulnerable region of the Western Balkans. Sofia and Zagreb stand behind an initiative to build an Institute for Sustainable Technology in Southeastern Europe. Bulgaria remains an active participant in the Three Seas Initiative which is very important for transport, energy, and digital connectivity, Radev said.

Grabar-Kitarovic noted that Croatia is preparing to preside over the Council of the EU in the first half of 2020, a role currently being played by Bulgaria. She said her country wants to learn from Bulgaria's experience. Economic development and employment will be among the priorities of the Croatian EU Presidency, she predicted. It will come at a time when extremely important matters will be on the EU agenda, including the multiannual financial framework and Brexit.

Grabar-Kitarovic agreed with Radev that the two countries' economic relations could be much better. "We need to focus on building road and railway corridors, and we also want to set up a scheduled air service between Zagreb and Sofia," she said.

The guest noted that Croatia can provide Bulgaria with high-tech equipment for its electric, chemical, pharmaceutical, and food industries. Croatian companies have shown interest in Bulgarian infrastructure projects, particularly transport infrastructure, she said.

Croatia wants to learn from Bulgaria's experience in successfully absorbing EU funding, the visiting President said.

At the news briefing, Radev and Grabar-Kitarovic also discussed the expulsion of Russian diplomats in connection with the Skripal case. Radev said that as Bulgaria presides over the Council of the EU, it should pursue a policy of dialogue and balance. He said Bulgaria is a loyal member of the EU and NATO. "In order to take further action, we need clear and indisputable evidence," he noted.

Grabar-Kitarovic said Croatia has shown solidarity with the EU about the expulsion of Russian diplomats but added that "dialogue should be the only policy." She said: "It is about time that the EU, our countries, and Russia try to go back to the policy of dialogue and move towards normalizing our relations."