Consultations at Deputy Minister-level with the Slovak Republic
29 March 2022 News
On 28-29 March, the State Secretary (First Deputy Minister) at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Martin Klus, visited Sofia.
Emphasis during the talks was placed on Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine and its impact on the security system in Europe, as well as the subsequent refugee crisis.
The first part of the consultations was led by Deputy Minister Irena Dimitrova. She welcomed the active and close coordination between the foreign ministries of Bulgaria and Slovakia to meet together the threats to European security. “We are pleased that Bulgaria is an ally and partner with similar views and interests and we look forward to further deepening our cooperation,” State Secretary Martin Klus said. He confirmed Slovakia’s support for Bulgaria’s full membership in the OECD, the Schengen Area and the euro area. The two sides also outlined opportunities for cooperation in strategic communications and countering misinformation.
The second part of the consultations was led by Deputy Minister Vasil Georgiev. The two discussed the current situation in the region and the European integration of the Western Balkans. Deputy Minister Georgiev reaffirmed Bulgaria’s consistent support for the Western Balkan countries and highlighted the principle of own merits as a guiding principle in the EU enlargement process. They also discussed the energy issues in the context of the bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
Emphasis was also placed on the upcoming presidency of the Slovak Republic of the Visegrad Group and the readiness of the Bulgarian side to continue effective cooperation with the Visegrad partners in all areas of common interest.