site.btaPresidents of Bulgaria, Greece Confer in Delphi

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev held a meeting with his Greek counterpart Konstantinos Tasoulas here on Wednesday within the 10th edition of the Delphi Economic Forum. Earlier in the day, the two presidents addressed participants in the event, which brings together heads of state and government, businesses, and non-governmental sector representatives to discuss prospects for sustainable development and competitiveness.

Both presidents said that in recent years Bulgaria and Greece have elevated bilateral cooperation to a new level in terms of energy and infrastructure connectivity. Radev and Tasoulas noted that the two countries share a common mission to strengthen stability in the Balkans and boost economic development.

Tasoulas pointed out the significance of the project for building a multimodal transport corridor linking Greek ports in the Aegean Sea with the Bulgarian ports in Burgas, Varna, and Ruse. In that context, Radev said Bulgaria was interested in participating in the management of the ports of Alexandroupolis and Kavala.

“Bulgaria and Greece are now an example of strategic partnership that could serve as a model for the development of neighbours in the Balkans,” Radev said. He thanked Tasoulas for the support provided for Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen land area, adding that such a step would contribute to a further increase in the movement of people, goods, and services.

During the meeting Tasoulas noted the importance for Greece of concluding a bilateral agreement on the waters of the Arda River, ahead of the upcoming irrigation season. Radev said Bulgaria stands ready to address the matter constructively, in the spirit of the strategic relations between the two countries and with respect for both sides’ interests.

BTA notes that the 1964 bilateral agreement requiring Bulgaria to provide regulated water from the Arda River to Greece ended in mid-2024, prompting efforts to agree on a longer-term solution. A temporary commercial arrangement was in place until September 30, 2024, allowing water deliveries to continue while negotiations proceed. Bulgarian authorities have clarified that the supply is not free, as the arrangement includes compensation in energy. Talks centre on balancing Greece’s agricultural needs with Bulgaria’s interests in hydropower generation and local water resources, with both sides seeking a mutually beneficial outcome.

This year's Delphi Economic Forum is on from April 9 to 12. Some 800 speakers from 70 different countries around the world will take part, organisers said. Among the topics to be discussed will be democracy and institutions, defence, economics and finance, culture, education, energy, demography, infrastructure, healthcare and others.