Enhancement of the parliamentary cooperation and economic partnership were highlights in the talks between National Assembly Chairperson Ms Tsetska Tsacheva and the President of the National Council of Switzerland, Ms Christa Markwalder. Bulgrian parliamentary delegation, led by the chairperson of the National Assembly, Ms Tsetska Tsacheva, is on official visit to the Swiss Confederation at the invitation of Ms Christa Markwalder.

Another major topic of discussion was the possibility of increasing trade and attracting new Swiss investments in Bulgaria. Tsetska Tsacheva underscored Bulgaria is a good place to do business and for foreign investments. She noted, in the last years, the trade and economic relations between the two countries mark an increase. She gave as example the bilateral forums held recently in the field of nanotechnologies, machine building, electronics and modern technologies. She praised the activity of the Bulgarian-Swiss Trade Chamber, the main purpose of which is to encourage and facilitate the business contacts between the two countries. Tsetska Tsacheva also declared Bulgaria’s lawmakers have the will to work for boosting the economic partnership with Switzerland.

“Both countries have traditions in the area of tourism, where exist more opportunities.” the chair of parliament noted.

The President of the National Council of Switzerland, Christa Markwalder, expressed satisfaction with the traditionally good relations between Bulgaria and Switzerland and said the two countries have common policies in some fields including such concerning financial discipline. She pointed to Bulgaria as being a good example of a country with lower state deficit. Markwalderfurther said both countries face the challenge of the migration wave in Europe. The two parties agreed that this problem needs a common European policy and an effective control of the external borders of the EU.

Ms Tsacheva thanked Switzerland on its stance in favor of Bulgaria’s accession to Schengen. “Even though Bulgaria is still outside the area, Bulgaria acts as the rest of those within,” she stressed.

Tsetska Tsacheva wrote down her name in the Golden book of the Swiss parliament and offered as present to Christa Markwalder a replica of the first bell of Bulgaria’s National Assembly.

Tsetska Tsacheva also met with the Chairman of the Council of States (the upper chamber of the Swiss parliament) Mr Raphael Comte. The two leaders commended the existing good, friendly and open relations between Bulgaria and Switzerland at parliamentary and government level. Tsetska Tsacheva pointed out that the partnership between the two countries has almost a 100- year long history.

She underscored Bulgaria appreciates a lot the Swiss experience in the Dual system of education and thanked Switzerland for the financial assistance, at the amount of 3,5 million Swiss francs, provided to Bulgaria to introduce the dual education. Tsacheva informed the first two pilot projects for the current school year have started in schools in Sofia and Kazanluk. The speaker of parliament noted the instrument of the dual education would have long term effect on decreasing unemployment of young people in Bulgaria.

Members of the delegation are the National Assembly’s deputy chairman, Aliosman Imamov, the chairman of the friendship group Bulgaria-Switzerland, Sylvia Hubenova, and MPs Tasko Ermenkov and Dimitar Shishkov.