site.btaBulgaria, Greece Show How Relations Between Balkan Countries Should Develop, Says Bulgarian Consul General in Thessaloniki

Bulgaria and Greece have shown how relations between two Balkan countries should develop, said the Bulgarian Consul General in Thessaloniki Anton Markov during a cross-border conference held here on Wednesday. The event was part of BTA’s Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project.

Markov thanked BTA Director General Kiril Valchev and the news agency for their very active role in the development of relations between the Balkan countries, which is very important today. He emphasized that as partners in NATO and the EU, both countries have shown how relations between two Balkan countries, which have a very long history over the years, should develop.

"Despite everything, today we are showing how we are very worthy partners and help each other in difficult times", he stressed, adding that such an example is when Bulgaria had a problem with gas supplies and Greece offered its help. He recalled that Bulgaria are also owners of 20% of the Greek terminal in Alexandroupolis and that a document was recently signed between the two foreign ministers so that Bulgaria can assist Northern Greece in the fight against climate change. These things are very important and show how active the relations are, Markov said.

He pointed out that only since the beginning of 2025 both countries have exchanged several between Athens and Sofia, the most recent being the participation of Bulgarian President Rumen Radev in the economic forum in Delphi. "Visits are exchanged annually, so we are on the right track thanks to all the efforts that BTA and the Greek news agency are making to cover these events and make everything visible", Markov noted.

BTA's Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project aims to raise public awareness and foster open dialogue about cohesion policy, local achievements, and the implementation of the EU's policy priorities. The project kicked off with a conference in Veliki Preslav in November 2024. The schedule of conferences until the end of September 2025 includes events in the following cities: Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Gabrovo, Dobrich, Kazanlak, Kardzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Razgrad, Ruse, Samokov, Svishtov, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofia, Stara Zagora, Troyan, Targovishte, Haskovo, Shumen, and Yambol. Cross-border conferences will be held in Belgrade, Bosilegrad, Bucharest, Edirne, Skopje, and Thessaloniki. The project builds on the Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future and Europe in Bulgaria: A Common Future projects, implemented by BTA in 2023 and 2024, respectively.