Connectivity, cooperation and security – we should make these key words our leading principles for the development of the Central and East European region. This is what President Rumen Radev said, who took part in the Global Forum organized by the Atlantic Council today in Warsaw. The meeting gathered together leading political figures, business leaders and experts who discussed the future of the transatlantic relations under the conditions of increasing regional and global challenges.

President Radev defined the policies targeted at bringing the member states and the individual EU regions closer together as a key factor contributing to strengthening the convincing presence of the EU on the international arena. “The EU can work efficiently only if it manages to achieve balanced levels of development and helps the new member states reach the living standard of the older ones,” Rumen Radev said.

In reply to a question asked at the forum regarding the challenges in the relations with Russia, the Head of State called for avoiding long-term confrontation. “In the face of the Ukrainian crisis, the EU confronted a typical frozen conflict, which should be resolved as soon as possible. The more we postpone the solution, the greater the risk for security, free trade and our community’s energy security,” Rumen Radev said. In the President’s words, the EU must preserve all channels for holding dialogues with Russia so as to prevent the danger of escalation of the conflict and the enhancement of long-term confrontation.  

Rumen Radev also commented what was achieved at the Three Seas Initiative  summit in Warsaw. He hopes that the great number of projects in the energy, infrastructure and digitalization sphere, which were discussed at the meeting, will be implemented as soon as possible with the active participation of the private sector and with the support of the European financial instruments.