site.btaPoland Backs Bulgaria's Position in Favour of Continuing Cohesion Policy after 2020

Poland Backs Bulgaria's Position in Favour of Continuing Cohesion Policy after 2020

Sofia, February 18 (BTA) - Bulgarian President Rumen Radev stressed the huge importance for Bulgaria of continuing the EU's Cohesion Policy after 2020 as a factor in economic growth and cohesion with the more developed countries, the President's Press Secretariat said. His Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda assured him that his country is aware of the importance of Cohesion Policy for Bulgaria and supports Sofia's position.

The two Presidents met at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.

They concurred that the unequal development of the EU Member States and regions and the infrastructure connecting them requires additional support for projects for transport and energy connections in Central and Eastern Europe. The two heads of State agreed that better connections in Eastern Europe will boost trade and economic growth and will benefit the entire EU.

Radev accepted Duda's invitation to represent Bulgaria at the second meeting of the Three Seas Initiative launched by Croatia and Poland. The first agreements on improvements in the regional energy and transport infrastructure are expected to be signed at the meeting in Wroclaw.

Radev and Duda noted that energy diversification is of key importance for Eastern Europe as it will enhance the security of energy supplies and will reduce their prices. The countries of the region will continue their efforts to expand the energy networks along the North-South Corridor, which will allow alternative supplies to all East European countries. Radev called for the construction of energy infrastructure linking Bulgaria and Poland. The latter already has a port for liquefied natural gas supplies, which will be expanded with a terminal for such supplies from Norway, and there is the gas interconector between Bulgaria and Romania.

The two Presidents noted the increase in two-way trade, which topped 1.3 billion euro in 2016. Bulgaria was visited by 300,000 Polish tourists last year, and Duda expects their number to reach half a million this year.

Radev praised bilateral defence cooperation and said he hoped it would deepen.

During the Munich Security Conference, Radev also held meetings with the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, and with Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn. Aspects of the migrant crisis and its impact on Bulgaria were on the agenda.

Radev and Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid discussed the two countries cooperation during their EU Presidency stints and Estonia's positive experience in the introduction of e-government.

Meeting with Radev, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev asked him to make an official visit.

In Munich Radev was invited to a working meeting on current security issues attended by US Senators, top brass and business representatives. The meeting was chaired by former US defence secretary William Cohen and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Curtis M. Scaparrotti. DD