site.btaForeign Minister Gabriel in Zagreb: Three Seas Initiative, North-South Corridor Are Key to Bulgaria

Energy Minister Rumen Radev will visit Paris on Wednesday, February 21, and will meet with French Minister of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty Bruno Le Maire, the Energy Ministry said on Tuesday. The two will sign a declaration of intent on civil nuclear energy cooperation between the two countries and discuss topics of bilateral interest.

“Bulgaria and Croatia are friends and allies, developing an active and consistent partnership, giving stability and good prospects for the future,” Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel said during a meeting with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, quoted by her ministry. Gabriel is on an official visit to Croatia at the invitation of the country's Foreign and European Affairs Minister Gordan Grlic-Radman. The visit was an opportunity to build on the achievements made during Minister Grlic-Radman's visit to Sofia last September, the Foreign Ministry said.

“We reaffirmed our shared commitment to work together on connectivity in infrastructure, transport, trade, energy, education and innovation to ensure a more sustainable future for our countries and the talents in the region,” Gabriel said. The Three Seas Initiative and the construction of the North-South Corridor are of strategic importance for Bulgaria and Croatia, she added.

Foreign Minister Gabriel thanked for Croatia's strong support for Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen area and the euro area. The ministers also stressed that the accession of Bulgaria and Croatia to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) will contribute to improving the economic stability, investment climate, stability and security of the region. They also discussed the possibility of setting up a working group between Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania to exchange good practices in the OECD accession process. 

"Bulgaria and Croatia have proven to be predictable and reliable partners within the European Union (EU), NATO and on the international stage. Our countries play a key role in the security and stability of Southeastern Europe. We remain strong supporters of the European perspective of the Western Balkans. Our support for the development of the Western Balkans underpins future joint initiatives creating more opportunities for people, businesses and the region," Gabriel underlined.

Croatian Foreign Minister Grlic-Radman said that Zagreb would continue to support Bulgaria to become a full member of the Schengen area, including with the land borders.