Minister Georgiev and his Czech counterpart discussed deepening of the bilateral cooperation and European issues

Minister Georg Georgiev held a meeting with the Minister for European Affairs of the Czech Republic, Martin Dvořák. The two ministers highly appreciated the bilateral cooperation between the two countries and discussed opportunities for deepening interaction in various fields, both on a bilateral basis and within the framework of international organizations.

Among the topics of the discussions were current issues on the European agenda, support for Ukraine, and EU enlargement. The two countries emphasized the importance of respecting the principle of own merits in fulfilling the conditions and commitments made in the EU enlargement process. Minister Georgiev informed Minister Dvořák about receiving the positive convergence report for Bulgaria's entry into the Eurozone, firmly stating that our country has a clear plan to introduce the euro from January 1, 2026.

Minister Dvořák congratulated Bulgaria on its determination and fulfillment of all criteria. The meeting took place on the first day of the GLOBSEC forum, which has become one of the most authoritative conferences in the world for connecting politics, academia, the non-governmental sector, and business.

The first diplomat noted that in today's increasingly complex geopolitical environment, maintaining unity between Bulgaria and the Czech Republic, which are EU and NATO member states, remains their greatest strength. Increasing instability, global challenges, and strategic competition underscore the need for joint work and the development of unified positions at the EU level.

The two ministers also discussed other important issues related to security in the Black Sea region, the EU's Black Sea Strategy, Russian aggression in Ukraine, and EU enlargement. Minister Georgiev emphasized that Bulgaria constantly highlights the vital role of the Black Sea region in maintaining security, economic stability, and energy transit routes.

The Czech Republic is one of Bulgaria's leading trade partners in Central Europe, and a Working Group for Economic Cooperation was established in 2004, with its ninth meeting held in Prague on 28.04.2022.