Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis highlighted the significance of the vertical energy corridor connecting Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania during his visit to Sofia, Bulgaria, where he met with his Bulgarian counterpart Rumen Radev on Thursday.
After congratulating Radev on his electoral victory and Bulgaria’s entry into the Eurozone and the Schengen border area, Mitsotakis stressed Greece’s pivotal role in the swift completion of the Greece-Bulgaria Interconnector (ICB), adding that it offered a great opportunity for closer bilateral relations in the field of energy, especially at a time of war in Ukraine.
Mitsotakis underlined that due to the ICB, both countries could push for more substantial EU funds in alignment.
In his remarks, the Greek PM also emphasized the need to reach a long-term strategic agreement on the management of transboundary waters, whether concerning the Arda and Evros rivers or the Nestos river. “I believe the time has come to approach this issue with a long-term perspective, so that we can plan the significant investments that need to be made in a sector that concerns not only agriculture but also protection against the climate crisis,” he said.
Mitsotakis reiterated the importance of strengthening defensive collaboration between the two countries, adding that much more could be achieved, while also highlighting the cooperation within the NATO alliance.
“We continue to support the European future of the Western Balkans, but we also emphasize that the process must be assessed on its own merits, including countries’ willingness to uphold good-neighborly relations and fully align with EU rules and standards,” the Greek PM said.
