04.09.2026
Prime Minister Rumen Radev after his meeting with Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico: The two countries to work together to be part of major European projects and of Europe’s research and technology development
Energy, security and defense, countering illegal migration, development of industry and high-tech sectors: such are the priority areas where Bulgaria and Slovakia will advance their cooperation as announced after the meeting of Prime Minister Rumen Radev and Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico at the Government Headquarters. They reviewed bilateral relations and expressed a shared will to expand collaboration between Bulgaria and Slovakia in a number of areas.
Prime Minister Rumen Radev emphasized the two countries’ aspiration to work both bilaterally and at European level to ensure steady, reliable and affordable energy for their businesses and citizens. Today’s talks led to an agreement to hold a bilateral meeting of the energy ministers and to set up a joint commission to share experience and research expertise on key projects in the nuclear power sector. Rumen Radev recalled that the two countries are currently negotiating with Westinghouse on the deployment of the last generation of AP 1000 reactors. “These are complex projects that require of us joint efforts so as to be more efficient and to make the whole process of their implementation and installation far more effective,” Bulgaria’s Prime Minister pointed out. Further, Rumen Radev recalled that nuclear power is a key factor to achieve one of the European Union’s major objectives: climate neutrality. Prime Minister Rumen Radev also underscored Bulgaria’s significant contribution to enhanced energy connectivity, security and diversification – areas in which Slovakia, among others, has a vested interest.
Following the talks between Prime Minister Rumen Radev and his counterpart Robert Fico, it was announced that a joint Bulgaria-Slovakia Commission will exchange experience concerning the improvement of the regulatory framework of public-private partnerships and the investment incentives. In this context, Prime Minister Rumen Radev congratulated his counterpart, Robert Fico, on the intensive industrialization that his country achieved over the past two decades. “Slovakia has become an undisputed leader in the automotive industry and it is a goal that we have set for ourselves,” Rumen Radev noted as he said that the first autonomous electric vehicles are about to start running along the streets of Bratislava. “This is to say that in addition to technology there exists a sound legislation,” Bulgaria’s Prime Minister said as he underscored the importance of bilateral cooperation in this area.
Defense industry was likewise cited by Bulgaria’s Prime Minister as another important field where Bulgaria and Slovakia can share their expertise. “We have exceptionally successful cooperation and interaction between the Sliač Air Base and the Graf Ignatievo Air Base to improve the infrastructure and the piloting of F-16 Block 70 fighter aircraft,” Rumen Radev said further.
Regarding the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), Prime Minister Rumen Radev singled out the understanding of the Friends of Cohesion Alliance that the funding and development of the EU’s new priorities such as competitiveness and security should not be to the detriment of traditional policies like cohesion and agriculture that are the very pillars of European unity. In the understanding of Prime Minister Radev, it is important to ensure equal access to the Competitiveness Fund resources and the modalities of their allocation so that smaller countries are not disadvantaged. “We want to work together and will work together for both our countries to be players in major European projects and to partake of Europe’s research and technology progress and this is a guarantee for closing the gap that exists in technological and industrial relations between big and smaller countries,” Rumen Radev said.
“Dear Robert, I am pleased that we share a common vision for the future of Europe: a Europe of peace and prosperity, a Europe of unity,” Bulgaria’s Prime Minister said as he addressed his Slovak counterpart. Prime Minister Rumen Radev was firm that there cannot be a military solution to the war in Ukraine and that attempts to find such a solution lead to increased risk and dangerous escalation. “Therefore, again we call for common sense, for dialog, for ceasefire and for a return to the negotiating table for diplomacy is the only sustainable and reliable solution to this conflict,” Prime Minister Rumen Radev said further.
In conclusion, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of cultural ties between Bulgaria and Slovakia. He expressed special gratitude to Prime Minister Robert Fico for the support for the Bulgarian community in Slovakia and for the afforded opportunities to save its cultural traditions and study the Bulgarian language. “I am glad that the number of Slovak travelers to Bulgaria is steadily increasing and we will work to enable this trend to grow, while the number of Bulgarians visiting Slovakia is growing likewise,” Rumen Radev said further.
For his part, Prime Minister Robert Fico emphasized that Bulgaria and Slovakia are friendly nations without unresolved issues between them. Also, he reaffirmed Slovakia’s full support for Bulgaria’s membership in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Robert Fico noted the mutual benefits of increased tourism flows as he said that over 80,000 Slovaks visited Bulgaria last year and pointed out the direct flight that encourages the tourist, cultural and economic exchanges. Prime Minister Robert Fico underscored the importance of cooperation in the field of education. As he said, a higher exchange of undergraduate and postgraduate students is needed to achieve more results. Further, he stressed the interest in cooperation of Bulgaria and Slovakia in nuclear power and reaffirmed the two countries’ approximating positions on the Competitiveness Fund.
