Bulgaria is undertaking a decentralization process and the Swiss experience can be very useful for us, said President Rosen Plevneliev, who held talks today at 2 Dondoukov Boulevard with the President of the Council of the cantons in the Federal Assembly of the Swiss Confederation, Hans Altherr.

Relations between Bulgaria and Switzerland are excellent and it is the task of the institutions and statesmen of both countries to maintain this level in the future, the two agreed.

President Plevneliev expressed appreciation for the 76 million Swiss francs provided by Switzerland in the framework of its assistance to newcomer EU countries.

The President briefed Mr Altherr on Bulgaria’s forthcoming administrative decentralization, which is aimed at strengthening the management capability of local authorities in municipal and regional matters. “Bulgaria will consistently carry out the process of decentralization and allocation of resources to its various regions. This is part of the process of shaping and defending Bulgaria’s national priorities in the 2014-2020 multiannual financial framework,” President Plevneliev said. Mr Altherr told the President of Switzerland's willingness to share its experience in administrative decentralization.

The President expressed Bulgaria’s gratitude for the expert support from Switzerland in the preparation of Bulgaria for accession to the Schengen area. Both sides expressed hope for the signing as soon as possible of the agreement on the avoidance of double taxation.