SOFIA, June 12 (MENA) - Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev and Czech Minister for European Affairs Martin Dvorak have met in Prague on the sidelines of the GLOBSEC Forum 2025 (held on June 12-14), the Bulgarian foreign ministry said on Thursday.

The two gave high marks for their countries’ cooperation and discussed ways to deepen interaction in various fields of shared interest, both at the bilateral level and within international organizations, the Bulgarian News Agency reported.

Georgiev and Dvorak talked about current issues on the EU agenda, support for Ukraine and EU enlargement. They shared the view that it is important to adhere to the “own merit” principle in fulfilling the requirements and the commitments assumed in the EU enlargement process.

Georgiev briefed his host on the positive convergence reports by the European Commission and the European Central Bank, which said that Bulgaria is prepared to join the euro area on January 1, 2026. “Bulgaria has a clear plan for adopting the euro on January 1,” Georgiev stressed.

Dvorak greeted Bulgaria on its determination and the fulfillment of all euro area membership criteria.

Georgiev said that maintaining unity between Bulgaria and Czechia, as member states of the EU and NATO, remains their greatest strength in an increasingly complicated geopolitical environment. He noted that growing instability, global challenges and strategic competition call for joint work and common positions in the EU.

The two ministers also discussed other important matters related to security in the Black Sea region, the EU’s Black Sea Strategy, the Russian war in Ukraine and EU enlargement.

GLOBSEC is a global think-tank with local offices in Bratislava, Brussels, Kyiv, Vienna and Washington DC committed to enhancing security, prosperity and sustainability in Europe and throughout the world.

At this year’s GLOBSEC Forum, discussions are organized around five main topics: European integration; defense and security in the transatlantic area; technology as help and threat; sustainable development and the global economy; and challenges to democracy and the liberal order. (MENA)

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