site.btaDeputy PM Atanas Zafirov Confers with French Ambassador to Bulgaria Joel Meyer

Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Zafirov held a meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Bulgaria, Joel Meyer, the Council of Ministers said in a press release on Friday. The focus of the conversation was the deepening of the strategic partnership between Bulgaria and France through concrete actions and initiatives in areas of key importance for the future of Europe, such as nuclear energy, defence and high technologies.

France is not only a long-standing partner, but also a strategic ally with whom Bulgaria shares a vision for a common European future. Particular attention was paid to cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, a key component of Bulgaria's energy security. The importance of the partnership with the French company Framatome was noted during the meeting, including the signed agreement for the supply of fresh nuclear fuel for the Kozloduy NPP, as well as the commitment of both countries within the framework of the Nuclear Alliance and the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency.

In the field of defence, the joint vision for building a strong and innovative European defence industry was reaffirmed at the meeting. Specific opportunities for the participation of French companies in priority projects for the modernization of the Bulgarian armed forces were discussed. Bulgaria expressed readiness for joint production and technological cooperation with the French industrial capacity in the field of security.

Economic relations between the two countries were also in the focus of the conversation. Despite the slight slowdown in trade in 2024, France remains among the leading investors in Bulgaria with capital of over EUR 1.1 billion. The importance of the French presence in sectors with high added value, innovation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, was noted. Opportunities for partnerships within the developing technology parks in the country were also discussed.

Deputy Prime Minister Zafirov stressed that the upcoming finalization of the new Roadmap for Strategic Partnership between Bulgaria and France will give new energy to bilateral relations and outline specific directions for sustainable and long-term cooperation.