'It is extremely important for Bulgaria that nuclear energy is recognised as one of the instruments to achieve the goals of the green deal. The proposal to recognise it, but only for a temporary period, is not in the interest of investors.' This is what President Rumen Radev told reporters in Brussels before the start of the European Council meeting on Thursday.

The Head of State pointed out that nuclear energy requires long-term planning and investment and this will be the fight in the Council. France is actively leading this fight with the support of a number of countries, including Bulgaria. 'We have common goals - the recognition and classification of nuclear energy and natural gas as green energy, because this will impact on the ecology, and will have a great social and economic effect,' the President stressed. He added that this is the future and Bulgaria will not back down from this position.

Asked whether he expects pressure from the European Council given the low vaccination rates in Bulgaria and whether this country is a threat because of its high levels of morbidity, the Head of State answered that Bulgaria is not a threat at all. 'You know that the pandemic is very dynamically spreading around the countries and it is difficult to establish uniform standards in Europe, especially on movement,' Rumen Radev specified. The President pointed out that this country is doing everything possible and that the caretaker cabinet has created all the necessary conditions for those who wish to be vaccinated.

'It is important that Bulgaria has managed to break the pandemic without a shutdown, which would have had disastrous consequences on the economy, social life, and education. I think that we should use the retreat of the disease that we see in Bulgaria to strengthen our health system," Radev added.

Responding to a question about EU-Russia relations, the President said that tensions exist, but a number of European leaders have expressed the opinion that dialogue should be sought to achieve de-escalation. 'In this case, it turns out that Europe's security, as President Macron said, is being discussed between Russia and the United States, and Europe is absent from this dialogue,' Rumen Radev noted, adding that the EU should seek dialogue, and set clear European requirements to ensure security.