site.btaPresident Plevneliev Receives Highest Croatian Award

President Plevneliev Receives Highest Croatian Award

Dubrovnik/Sofia, August 25 (BTA) - Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev was decorated with the highest Croatian award, the Grand Order of King Tomislav with Sash and Great Morning Star for his merits for the peaceful and democratic development of the region and the establishment of deep and comprehensive bilateral relations, Plevneliev Press Secretariat told BTA. The order was conferred on him by Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic.

Queen Elizabeth II and Polish president Lech Kaczynski (2005-2010) are among the notable recipients of the order.

President Plevneliev is on a one-day visit to Croatia at the invitation of his Croatian counterpart.

Later in the day Plevneliev participated in the Dubrovnik Forum 2016 "Strengthening Europe: Connecting North and South".

Addressing the participants, Plevneliev said Bulgaria fully supports the efforts to develop and connect the economies and infrastructure of the Central and East European countries (CEECs) along the North-South axis. This key regional cooperation needs timely political support and resolute action to make the CEECs more stable and competitive in the EU.

The Bulgarian President said that new effective ways to cooperate in energy, transport, digital communications and trade were needed if the Black Sea, Adriatic and Baltic countries were to develop as a stable, democratic and prosperous region with a strong voice in the EU.

"An underdeveloped infrastructure is a major barrier to our economic development," said Plevneliev. He urged that regional policy should focus on the completion of the current infrastructure projects and on initiating new ones by using the EU instruments for development.

Plevneliev stated that the region's energy sector should develop in line with the EU's common energy policy. A single liberalized energy market should be built in the EU and all Member States should speak with one voice with their external partners in energy policy.

The President reaffirmed Bulgaria's support for accelerated European integration of the Western Balkans. "The European project will not be completed until the Western Balkans join our community," Plevneliev said. The regional initiative has serious potential to support development, communications and competitiveness in Central and Eastern Europe.

Plevneliev was invited to the forum by Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, his press secretariat said. The event brought together the State leaders of Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, Hungary and Croatia, and government representatives of Austria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Romania and Slovakia.

The initiative sets out to encourage strategic cooperation among the 12 EU Member States linking the Adriatic, the Baltic and the Black Sea, and to improve the region's connectedness in energy, transport and digital technology.

news.modal.header

news.modal.text

By 08:19 on 27.01.2025 Today`s news

This website uses cookies. By accepting cookies you can enjoy a better experience while browsing pages.

Accept More information