National Assembly President Tsetska Tsacheva and the President of the Hellenic Republic, Prokopis Pavlopolus, discussed the bilateral relations and opportunities for deepening of the parliamentary contacts and the cooperation within the European Parliament. The President of the Hellenic State is on a two-day visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of Bulgaria’s Head of State Rosen Plevneliev.

The Chair of the National Assembly Tsetska Tsacheva noted that Bulgaria appreciates highly the existing good neighborly relations and understanding with Greece. The relations between the two countries are strategic and friendly, such between partners and allies. “Our two peoples are connected through century-old cultural and historic links, so politicians and statesmen should work to make communications between their citizens and businesses easier and accessible”, Tsetka Tsacheva underscored. She said there is a friendship group with Greece in the parliament and the lawmakers will work to intensify the cooperation between the two parliaments.

The Greece’s Head of State, Prokopis Pavlopolus, noted the bilateral relations between Greece and Bulgaria could serve as an example for the whole region. “Our two countries had gone through big hardships, through periods lacking democracy and stand much closer to the big ideals of Europe than many other countries”. In his words the parliaments of the two countries could expand the cooperation even more to include interaction within the European parliament.

The migratory pressure was also on the agenda of the talks between the two leaders. Tsetska Tsacheva stressed: “Europe had never before had such need of common policy and solidarity”, and added Bulgaria is making strong efforts to protect the borders of the EU. She emphasized the importance of the speedy ratification of the trilateral agreement for police and custom cooperation, which was signed in Sofia on 25th May, 2015 between Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey. She pointed out the document gives good grounds for better coordination and common actions.

“Bulgaria considers the Process for Cooperation in South East Europe as the best political format for regional cooperation”, said Tsetska Tsacheva, “and we are convinced that we must insist on its role as the most important political format and factor for the successful and full European integration of the Western Balkans”. She added Bulgaria is grateful to Greece for its support for the proposal to transform the Regional Secretariat for Parliamentary Cooperation in South-East Europe, headquartered in Sofia into a Permanent Secretariat of the Parliamentary Assembly of the PCSEE.

President Prokopis Pavlopolus reconfirmed Greece’s support for Bulgaria to host the headquarter of the Permanent Secretariat of the Parliamentary Assembly of the PCSEE.