Political consultations between Bulgaria and Latvia
29 May 2023 News
On 23 May 2023, political consultations between Bulgaria and Latvia on topical issues on the bilateral and European agenda were held at the Foreign Ministry. On the Bulgarian side, the consultations were led by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Velislava Petrova, and on the Latvian side by Ingrida Levrence, Deputy State Secretary for European Affairs at the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Both parties reviewed a wide range of topics, including good political dialogue, upward trends in tourism and trade and economic relations, energy policy and Bulgaria's accession to the OECD, the eurozone and Schengen. Views were also exchanged on issues related to the war in Ukraine, sanctions against Russia and EU enlargement.
At the beginning of the meeting, Deputy Minister Petrova praised the bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Latvia, which are based on mutual trust and support, as well as the constructive partnership within the European Union and NATO. Last year we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with Latvia.
Mrs Petrova pointed out that economic cooperation and maintaining the positive trend in bilateral trade are in the interest of our countries. We see good opportunities for promoting industrial cooperation and deepening interaction between Bulgarian and Latvian small and medium-sized enterprises. The Bulgarian part is also interested in developing cooperation in the field of transport and logistics, information technologies and innovations, as well as sharing experience with Latvia in the field of services.
The issue of Bulgaria's membership in the eurozone was also at the centre of the discussions. Accession to the eurozone is a key priority for Bulgaria and our ambition is to become a member as soon as possible, before 1 January 2025. Deputy Minister Petrova said that ‘Bulgarian institutions are working hard on all the tasks foreseen in the National Euro Changeover Plan and we expect the new Parliament to adopt the necessary legislative framework’.
Among the main priorities that were touched upon during the consultations is the adoption of a decision on Bulgaria's accession to Schengen during the upcoming Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Velislava Petrova pointed out that Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen area will have direct benefits for Bulgaria, as well as for trade, tourism, connectivity and security of the whole European Union. ‘With great determination, Bulgaria is conducting a constructive dialogue with Austria and the Netherlands in order to strengthen mutual trust and overcome their scepticism. In the dialogue with Austria, an agreement has already been reached on a bilateral plan to fight illegal migration, which is already being implemented,’ she said. She thanked Latvia for its consistent support for Bulgaria's accession to the OECD, Schengen and the eurozone.
During the talks, the energy sector and the importance of the nuclear sector for the energy stability of our region and of the whole European Union were discussed.
Regarding the war in Ukraine, the Bulgarian part stated that it continues to support the country with all available instruments. This includes multilateral support and increasing pressure on Russia, including through international isolation, restrictive measures and prosecution of responsibility for crimes.
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