JOINT DECLARATION OF THE 4TH HIGH LEVEL – COOPERATION COUNCIL BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA ALEXANDROUPOLIS, 26.02.2020 The Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria Mr. Boyko Borissov and the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the close of the Fourth meeting of the Bulgarian – Hellenic High Cooperation Council, held in Alexandroupolis on February 26th, 2020 and attended from the Bulgarian side by Mrs. Ekaterina Zaharieva, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Krassimir Karakatchanov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, , Mr. Mladen Marinov, Minister of Interior, Mrs. Petya Avramova, Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, Mr. Boil Banov, Minister of Culture, Mr. Rossen Zhelyazkov, Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications, Mr. Emil Karanikolov, Minister of Economy, Mrs. Temenuzhka Petkova, Minister of Energy, Mrs. Nikolina Angelkova, Minister of Tourism, and from the Hellenic side by Mr. Spyridon-Adonis Georgiadis, Minister for Development and Investments, Mr. Nikolaos-Georgios Dendias, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Michail Chryssochoidis, Minister of Citizen Protection, Mr. Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, Minister of National Defense, Mrs. Styliani Mendoni, Minister for Culture and Sports, Mr. Konstantinos A. Karamanlis, Minister of Infrastructures and Transport, Mr. Theoharis Theoharis, Minister of Tourism, Mr. Georgios Koumoutsakos, Alternate Minister for Migration and Asylum, Mr. Konstantinos Fragogiannis, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs for Economic Diplomacy and Openness and Mr Gerassimos Thomas, Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy Underlining that the Republic of Bulgaria and the Hellenic Republic have established a strategic partnership covering a large spectre of thematic areas of bilateral cooperation, Emphasizing the excellent relations between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Hellenic Republic, which have been based and evolved upon mutual respect and trust, and underscoring the strong ties of friendship and cooperation connecting our two peoples, Stressing that our two countries are close partners in the European Union, allies in NATO and participate actively and cooperate in many regional, European and International organizations, institutions and fora, as well as in various trilateral and quadrilateral cooperative schemes in the region, Reiterating our strong and unwavering support to the European and Euro-Atlantic perspective and/or integration processes of the Western Balkans, based on the relevant conditionality. Reiterating the EU’s historic commitment stressed in the 2003 Thessaloniki Declaration that “the future of the Balkans is within the European Union”,as well as the unequivocal support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans reaffirmed in the 2018 Sofia Declaration and Priority Page 1 of 6 Agenda and looking forward to the forthcoming EU-Western Balkans summit in Zagreb as a continuation of our efforts. Emphasizing that the European Union is pivotal in maintaining peace, stability, growth and prosperity in the entire Continent, including in those countries which aspire to join the EU, while reiterating that solidarity remains at the heart of the European project, Upholding the principles, values and objectives of the European Global Strategy for the European Union’s Foreign and Security Policy, Recognizing that the need to promote multilateral solutions, a key principle of the EU’s international action under the Treaty on European Union, is more urgent than ever. Underlining our full respect for international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as well as our lasting commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, good neighbourly relations and close regional cooperation, which are of the highest importance for the peace and stability, security and development of Southeast Europe and Eastern Mediterranean, Underscoring the key importance of our neighbouring regions for the security and stability in Europe and acknowledging that a safe, peaceful and prosperous neighbourhood of our countries is of direct interest for the EU as a whole, Reiterating the significance of the principles and objectives set out in the 1991 Agreement on Friendship, Good Neighbourliness, Cooperation and Security, signed between our two countries, and in the 2006 Declaration of Friendship, Good Neighbourliness and Cooperation, Confirming our determination to further reinforce the positive momentum in the bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation by developing and enhancing our relationships in all fields of mutual interest for the benefit of the people of our countries, Taking into consideration the results of the First, Second and Third High Level Cooperation Councils, held in Sofia in July 2010, in Athens in December 2012 and in Sofia in August 2016 respectively, Stressing that 2020 marks the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between them, resulting in their contemporary multifaceted and growing cooperative partnership at bilateral, regional and international levels. Jointly declare the following: Continue to enhance and deepen our strategic partnership on a bilateral basis, including by employing intensive political dialogue on a regular basis and undertaking concerted efforts on bilateral, regional and international matters with a view to consolidating peace, stability and security in the entire region and beyond. Page 2 of 6 Invest sustained efforts in deepening our cooperative synergies in many thematic areas, including economy and trade, investments, energy, infrastructure and transport, cross-border cooperation, environment, defence and police cooperation in the interest of our citizens, countries and the region as a whole. Deepen further our cooperation on sectoral issues, including infrastructure, energy projects, economy, trade and transport, as well as the relevant technical dialogue. Emphasize our firm common commitment to effectively guarantee, including through joint efforts, the free movement of goods, capital, services and people between our countries, in accordance with the relevant EU single market rules and regulations. Building on the strong ties and existing economic cooperation between our two countries, and taking into account the EU policy framework for SMEs, encourage cooperation in the fields of Industry and Small & Medium Sized Enterprises; strengthen networking and exchange of information among appropriate entities and further explore the participation of Greek and Bulgarian businesses in joint European projects. Referring to the potential for a closer cooperation regarding the digital transformation of industry, confirm that there is scope for the exchange of know-how and good practices. Acknowledge that the simplification of business regulatory environment is pivotal for growth and competitiveness of SMEs, taking into account their needs, constraints and growth potential. In this regard, the Greek side informed the Bulgarian side that a major regulatory reform is underway in the Hellenic Republic, aiming at simplifying licensing procedures and consolidating a coherent institutional framework for the licensing and supervision of all economic activities. Welcome the substantial progress that has been achieved, as a result of our joint efforts, in the realization of the gas interconnection pipeline project between Greece and Bulgaria, namely the IGB pipeline. Having in mind that the Intergovernmental Agreement regarding this project was signed on October 10th 2019 in Sofia and the construction phase of the project is already underway, reiterate that the IGB pipeline contributes to the establishment of a vertical gas corridor aiming to ensure access to diversified supplies for the region. The two governments will implement all efforts to accelerate the construction of IGB in tandem with TAP. Underline that this new vertical corridor is implemented through new Gas Interconnectors such as the functioning Gas Interconnection Bulgaria – Romania (IBR) and the planned Gas Interconnection Bulgaria– Serbia (IBS) pipelines, as well as new LNG terminals such as the Alexandropoulis Floating Storage Regasification Unit and new storage facilities like the Kavala Underground Gas Storage and the expansion of Underground Gas Storage Chiren. The two governments will undertake a common assessment of synergies that may arise from the co-operation between the Bulgarian and Hellenic energy exchanges and the “Balkan” gas hub. Reaffirm our commitment to accelerate the implementation of the second electricity interconnection between our two countries, namely Maritsa East-Nea Santa, now entering Page 3 of 6 construction phase. The construction of the Bulgarian part of the interconnector will be launched on 12 March 2020. Stress our will to promote sustainable energy supplies at competitive prices, based on the EU’s energy strategy, through the realization of Projects of European Common Interest (PCI’s). Consolidating our operational infrastructure constitutes a prerequisite for an efficiently operating integrated energy market and the enhancement of our region’s security of supply, via the diversification of sources and routes. Reiterate the importance of the Joint Declaration on understanding and cooperation in the field of use of water resources on the respective territories of the shared river basins between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Hellenic Republic,