Challenging and ambitious climate goals are included in our strategic plans

My country remains determined to steadfastly pursue its legitimate goal of full accession to Schengen. 

Caspian Energy (CE): Your Excellency, Bulgaria and Azerbaijan are close strategic partners. Are you satisfied with the economic component and what potential do you see for developing cooperation?

Rumen Radev, President of the Republic of Bulgaria: Bulgaria attaches great importance to its relations with Azerbaijan and considers Azerbaijan a reliable strategic partner in the South Caucasus region and the wider Black Sea region. The intensive bilateral political dialogue over the last years is an evidence of our traditional friendly and expanding bilateral relations. The Joint Declaration on Strengthening the Strategic Partnership between Bulgaria and Azerbaijan which was signed during my recent visit to Baku in May 2024 reflects our common willingness to build on and expand the scope of our partnership in priority are­as such as energy and connectivity, and to give impetus to other areas, where progress is less tangible.

We stand ready to intensify our economic cooperation, both bilaterally and within the framework of the EU’s po­licy to develop relations with the South Caucasus region by transferring additional quantities of gas from Azerbaijan. That is why the significance of this Bulgarian initiative was recognized by the European Commission that expressed firm support for its realization.

The Memorandum of Understanding signed on April 25, 2023 to promote cooperation between the operators of the gas transmission systems of Bulga­ria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and the Azerbaijani company SOCAR not only consolidates the successful partnership between the five countries, but will also lead to an increase in connecti­vity and capacity of the gas transmission network of the countries in the region. The office of SOCAR which was opened in Sofia in the presence of President Aliyev and myself in 2023 is also a very important step in that direction.

CE: Since Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007, the country has tripled its GDP without being a member of the Schengen zone. Which sectors have triggered the growth and what future lies ahead of them? 

Rumen Radev: Indicators of the Bulgarian economy are stable, including positive economic growth and low external debt. Bulgaria’s macroeconomic stability is a fact against the backdrop of global economic and financial challenges.