President Pirc Musar on an official visit to Bulgaria

This summer, Bulgaria will be a partner country of the international fair of agriculture and food in Gornja Radgona and the President expressed her satisfaction that cooperation in such an important area as agriculture will strengthen further. She thanked Bulgaria for the assistance provided during the last major floods in Slovenia.

Slovenia and Bulgaria are both members of the EU and NATO but are separated by countries that still have to put some effort into meeting the conditions for joining the European integration. Slovenia would like the Western Balkan countries, with which it used to be integrated in the past, to again coexist in the European Union. President Pirc Musar said that she counts on Bulgaria’s support in this. She firmly believes that EU enlargement is the only right way to enhance security and development in the region and ensure good neighbourly relations.

The President reiterated her conviction that the Schengen system and open borders within the EU have many advantages. She congratulated Bulgaria and Romania on reaching an agreement on the Schengen Area of free movement by sea and air, which will enter into force in March. She added that border management in Western Balkans needs to be strengthened in cooperation with Frontex to more effectively deal with the challenges posed by increased migration.

The Slovenian and Bulgarian Presidents also exchanged views on the war zones in Ukraine and the Middle East and advocated for the end of the wars and violence as soon as possible. They called for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian aid for Gaza. President Pirc Musar said that Slovenia is actively engaged in discussions on this topic in the UN Security Council and stressed that we have to do everything in our power to prevent the further suffering and killing of civilians and all innocent victims.

The purpose of the visit is to intensify economic cooperation between the two countries. Bulgaria is Slovenia's 27th most important economic partner and there are opportunities to further strengthen cooperation. According to official data, trade in goods and services between the two countries increased in 2022 by more than 40% in goods and 15% in services. During the visit, the Presidents attended the Slovenian-Bulgarian Business Forum, where they addressed the participants. Slovenian companies are also participating in this Business Forum.

On this occasion, President Pirc Musar congratulated President Radev on the national holiday that Bulgaria celebrates on 3 March. She also laid a wreath at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier on St Aleksandar Nevski Square.

Later, President Pirc Musar also met with Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov and President of the National Assembly Rosen Zhelyazkov.

On the last day of the visit, Pirc Musar will, together with the Mayor of Plovdiv, Kostadin Dimitrov, visit the site of the bust of Anton Bezenšek, a Slovenian editor, publisher and expert on Slavic languages and stenography. The President will pay homage to Bezenšek by laying flowers at his statue.

She will conclude the visit to Bulgaria by giving a lecture at the University of Plovdiv and talking with students about climate change, threats and cybersecurity disinformation , as these are the challenges young people will be dealing with.