Meetings of Bulgarian PM Borissov at World Economic Forum in Davos

At the World Economic Forum in Davos on 26^th of January, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov was the main moderator of a discussion on the future of the Western Balkans. It was also attended by the leaders of the countries from the region, as well as the Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn.

Bulgaria's main foreign policy priority for the European perspective of all Western Balkan countries was also a focus in Borisov's meeting with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in his role as director of the Institute for Global Change. The two have identified Britain's exit from the EU as painful for all parties in the process. Borissov voiced expectation that, despite Brexit, the EU and the UK would remain close partners in the security and economic spheres, on international policy issues, and that the fundamental rights of the EU and the UK citizens would be protected.

Gas projects in Bulgaria were an emphasis in Borissov's meeting with Shell’s Global Upstream director, Andrew Brown. The prime minister said that future extraction from Han Kubrat oil and gas block in the Black Sea is one of the options for diversification of sources. He also briefed Brown on the opportunities that the construction of the Balkan gas hub would provide for the whole of Europe.