Bulgaria and Greece will accelerate work on the gas connection between the two countries, which is important for the energy security of the region and for which funding is already secured. The connection was one of the topics of conversation between President Rosen Plevneliev and his Greek counterpart Karolos Papoulias in Athens. Both sides will work more effectively to connect their electrical networks, President Plevneliev told journalists. This should happen in the context of the future single European energy market, he said, noting that Bulgaria is a major exporter of electricity to Greece.

Further efforts should be made in joint infrastructure projects, among them the Struma highway, President Plevneliev said. He said that Bulgaria and Greece could make more effective use of European instruments for the financing of regional projects, which is currently cross-border cooperation program to 2013, and after 2014 the instrument for connecting Europe. The President highlighted the prospects for cooperation in the Black Sea region, including in tourism, where the two countries could jointly offer a successful tourism product.

President Plevneliev said that the joint sitting of the two governments was a highly successful initiative. This will happen a second time later this year, when ideas for the development of the potential between the two countries will be discussed. Greece is the third largest investor in Bulgaria and Greek companies create more than 100 000 jobs, the President said.

Bulgaria and Greece could be a catalyst for development of the region, President Plevneliev said, urging both sides to prepare joint regional projects of European significance.

In Athens, President Rosen Plevneliev met with Mayor Giorgios Kaminis. At a special ceremony, the President was awarded the “Order of Athens”. Later today he will meet with the Bulgarian community in Athens.