site.btaForeign Minister Kondov Discusses Bilateral Relations with French Senators

Bulgaria's caretaker Foreign Minister Ivan Kondov conferred here on Wednesday with French Senate Vice President and France-Bulgaria Friendship Group President Loic Herve and French Senator Olivier Cadic representing the French living abroad, Kondov's Ministry said in a press release.

France's Ambassador in Sofia Joel Meyer also attended the meeting.

The sides expressed satisfaction with the excellent bilateral relations based on mutual confidence and understanding and exchanged greetings on the 145th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and France on July 8, 1879.

"France is our strategic partner and ally with which we wish to carry on the active dialogue and cooperation at all levels both bilaterally and within the framework of the EU and NATO," Kondov said. France's continued support for Bulgaria's full accession to the Schengen area was highly appreciated, and an assurance was expressed that France will back an implementation of Bulgaria's main priorities: entry into the Eurozone and joining the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Kondov extended special gratitude to France for the key role it played during the French Presidency of the EU Council in 2022 in reaching a compromise that made it possible to adopt a EU accession negotiating framework for the Republic of North Macedonia.

The sides welcomed the joint effort to update the 2008 Strategic Partnership Roadmap, taking into consideration the close positions of Bulgaria and France on a number of topics, including such on the EU agenda.

The sides share the understanding that Bulgaria's Consulate General, which has been functioning in Lyon since September 2024, will contribute to deepening bilateral cooperation, including at the local level.

It was emphasized that the invigoration of parliamentary partnership and the dialogue between the Bulgarian and the French parliaments at all levels can contribute to a better understanding of national position and better coordination for protection of the shared interests.

The sides also discussed the Bulgarian national minority in Ukraine within the context of the war with Russia, Bulgaria's consistent efforts to protect the EU external borders and coordination with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), the significance of strategic communication, and combating disinformation and hybrid threats from third countries.