site.btaPM Denkov: Bulgaria, France Explore Opportunities for Energy, Defence Cooperation

There are opportunities for cooperation between Bulgaria and France in the nuclear energy sector, became clear at a meeting between Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov and visiting French Secretary of State for European Affairs Laurence Boone, the government press service said here on Thursday.

The French side is interested in participating in the project for two new reactors at the Kozloduy NPP. In addition to that, in February 2022, the Bulgarian side signed a contract with the French company Framatom for the supply of fresh nuclear fuel for Kozloduy NPP's Unit 6 between 2025 and 2034. Furthermore, the energy ministries of the two countries are discussing a draft declaration of intent for cooperation in the nuclear energy sector.

Denkov told Boone that the promises made by the former caretaker government to the French company EDF to commission it with a feasibility study for the construction of the Belene nuclear power plant were unrealistic. "There was never a real chance of this project being realized, and with the start of the war in Ukraine and European sanctions against Russia, it [such chance] was completely lost," Denkov said. Just days ago, the Bulgarian government permanently halted the project for a second nuclear power plant.

Denkov and Boone also noted the intensive defence cooperation between Bulgaria and. France is interested in the Bulgarian army's modernization projects, as French companies have made technological equipment supply offers.

France supports Bulgaria on its main foreign policy priorities - accession to the Schengen area and the eurozone, as well as to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Denkov thanked French Ambassador to Bulgaria Joël Meyer for the visit of the MEDEF (Movement of Enterprises in France) delegation. On Thursday and Friday, representatives of more than 100 French companies and companies are exploring business opportunities in Bulgaria.