Sofia, July 26 (BTA) - Bulgarian head of State Rumen Radev held
a meeting with Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der
Bellen in Salzburg on Monday, Radev's press secretariat
reported. He is paying a one-day working visit to Salzburg at
Van der Bellen's invitation.

Radev said that Austria is a leading trading partner and
investor in Bulgaria. In 2020, two-way trade amounted to 1.358
billion euro and Austrian investments in Bulgaria stood at 319.2
 million euro. Bulgaria encourages Austrian companies to make
new or increase their existing investments in priority areas,
including medical and laboratory supplies, organic farming,
infrastructure projects, mechanical engineering and electronics,
 Radev noted.

Strengthening the EU's ability for economic recovery from the
COVID-19 pandemic and the EU's mechanisms for reaction to
crises, as well as the transition to a digital and green economy
 featured on the agenda of the bilateral talks. According to
Radev, the sustainability of national healthcare systems should
improve. Their functioning within the EU and between Member
States should be facilitated by the competent EU institutions,
avoiding an additional administrative burden. In his words, the
COVID-19 crisis highlighted the need to diversify the supply
chains, particularly where public safety or strategic sectors
are concerned.

The two heads of state also talked about the steps to a
climate-neutral EU. They agreed that limiting greenhouse
emissions is beneficial for the environment and European
citizens' health, and will contribute to the European economy's
long-term global competitiveness through innovations and green
technologies. Radev said that achieving the EU's targets for
2030 with a horizon until 2050 requires adequate instruments for
 mobilizing the necessary investments, and the transition in
countries with a GDP lower that the EU-average should get
additional support.

Discussing the topic of the EU enlargement policy in the Western
 Balkans with his host, Radev noted Bulgaria's consistent and
principled support for the region's EU perspective. However,
that perspective should not be limited only to formal stages in
the accession process and should not harm the interests of the
EU's Member States and its values. Within the Slovenian EU
Council Presidency, Bulgaria is ready to work towards making
progress on sensitive topics and finding solutions acceptable to
 both Sofia and Skopje, Radev said.
 
The two presidents also discussed the EU's asylum policy reform
and the need of a clear plan with guidelines in case of a spike
in migration flows.
 
NV/DS