site.btaPresidents Radev, Steinmeier Talk on the Phone

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev talked with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier on the telephone on Thursday. The short- and long-term implications of the hostilities in Ukraine, Europe's changed security environment and the EU perspective of the countries of the Western Balkans were the highlights of the discussion, Radev's Press Secretariat said.

The Bulgarian President praised highly the diplomatic steps taken by Germany and President Steinmeier towards a de-escalation of the conflict and ending the military actions. Radev also said that besides measures related to Europe's defence and energy security, quick actions were needed to prevent a food crisis in regions close to Europe arising from the cessation of grain supplies from Russia and Ukraine.

Radev and Steinmeier also discussed the European integration of the countries of the Western Balkans. Radev reaffirmed Bulgaria's support for the start of EU accession talks with Albania in the wake of deep reforms of the judiciary, the economy and the protection of national minorities. The Bulgarian President also said that it is in the interest of the stability of united Europe that each candidate country should stand up for the European values linked to the rights of its citizens, and that Bulgaria expects to see compelling results in this respect from the Republic of North Macedonia before consenting to the start of Skopje's EU accession talks.