site.btaEnergy Diversification, Single European Market on Agenda of British Foreign Secretary's Talks in Sofia
Energy Diversification, Single European Market on Agenda of British Foreign Secretary's
Talks in Sofia
Sofia, January 14 (BTA) - British Foreign Secretary Philip
Hammond, who arrived on an official visit to Bulgaria on
Wednesday, talked to his Bulgarian counterpart Daniel Mitov and
President Rosen Plevneliev. Energy diversification, the Single
Energy Market and bilateral trade relations featured on the
agenda of the discussions.
Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov and British Foreign Secretary
Philip Hammond, is here at Mitov's invitation, made a joint
statement here following their meeting, the Foreign Ministry
said in a press release.
"Today we reaffirmed our commitment to deepen the cooperation
between Bulgaria and the UK and to further develop our bilateral
relations. Allies and partners in the EU and NATO, our
countries share common values and a range of common interests.
This is the backbone of our relationship in today's complex
international environment," the statement says.
Views were exchanged during the meeting on the escalation of
terrorism and the need to deepen bilateral coordination to fight
all its forms, including those coming from ISIL and other
extremist organisations that recruit foreign fighters. "We
condemn the terrorist attacks in Paris and express our full
solidarity with the French people at this time," the two top
diplomats said.
Bulgaria and the UK will continue to work together and with all
Allies to implement the Wales NATO Summit commitments, in
particular the Readiness Action Plan, in order for the Alliance
to be fully prepared and ready to tackle 21st century security
threats.
"We highlighted that as partners in the EU our countries
cooperate to achieve the highest standards in justice. The
Strategy on the Reform of the judiciary, adopted by the
Bulgarian government, is an important step to achieving an
efficient judiciary that functions in the interest of its
people," the statement reads.
Mitov and Hammond also pledge to continue their intensive
dialogue and cooperation on the security and diversification of
energy supplies in South-Eastern Europe and within the European
Union.
Among the topics discussed during the meeting were the situation
in Ukraine, the challenges and opportunities facing
Southeastern Europe, developments in the Middle East and North
Africa, as well as the important issues facing the EU and its
Member States: the urgent need to complete Single markets in
services (including financial services), digital and energy;
applying proper measures for reducing the regulatory and
administrative burden for businesses, especially medium and
small enterprises; and increasing the level of investments, as
well assigning ambitious free trade agreements, including the
Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.
The top diplomats voiced hope that with the creation of the new
British-Bulgarian Business Association trade relations will
deepen trade and investment between both countries will
increase.
The reform within the EU and cooperation between Bulgaria and
the United Kingdom within EU and NATO topped the agenda of the
talks between Plevneliev and Hammond, the President's Press
Secretariat said.
The two declared themselves in favour of accelerated measures
for the completion of the Single European Market, which will
render the EU more competitive after the period of economic and
financial crisis and will ensure growth and new jobs. The Union
needs to reform for the purpose of enhancing the efficiency of
the European institutions, easing regulations and restructuring
the labour market. The EU should reform itself in order to keep
the confidence of the European citizens and meet the challenges
of the 21st century, the guest commented.
Plevneliev and Hammond discussed the energy security of Europe
and, in particular, of the countries of Southeastern Europe. The
sides underscored the need of accelerated diversification of
sources and the routes for the supply of energy resources noting
that the European Commission's Investment Plan for Europe can
be used for this purpose. It transpired at the meeting that
Bulgaria will count on British support for the financing of
projects on energy connectors, with which the country will apply
for financing before the European Commission.
The British Foreign Secretary raised the issue for the meeting
of Bulgaria's commitments in relation to the defence costs
undertaken at the NATO summit in Wales in September 2014.
President Plevneliev agreed that the budgeted defence costs for
2015 do not correspond to the commitments undertaken before the
allies and voiced hope that additional resources for the
modernization of the armed forces will be provided.
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