Both countries are negotiating with Westinghouse, the Bulgarian prime minister noted.
Bulgaria and Slovakia will establish a joint commission to exchange experience and scientific expertise in nuclear energy, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced during a joint statement with his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico in Sofia.
“Energy is the foundation of our economy. The Bulgarian and Slovak ministers will meet shortly to create a joint commission for sharing experience and scientific expertise in nuclear energy,” Radev said.
Both countries are negotiating with Westinghouse, the Bulgarian prime minister noted.
“These are complex projects that require us to combine our efforts. The commission will share scientific expertise and examine legal matters. Prime Minister Fico and I also discussed how our countries could jointly approach manufacturers and suppliers of such complex systems,” Radev added at the Council of Ministers.
He argued that the European Union could not achieve its environmental targets without nuclear energy.
“We are now experiencing a nuclear energy renaissance,” Fico said, describing the closure of nuclear reactors as a serious mistake.
Radev noted that nuclear power plants were becoming magnets for future industries, including data centres and artificial intelligence gigafactories.
“Countries with nuclear power plants can position themselves in the industries of the future,” he said.
The Bulgarian prime minister expressed the ambition for Bulgaria and Slovakia to become leading countries in this field.
Fico described the two countries as friendly nations with no outstanding bilateral disputes. He also pointed to a major problem affecting oil supplies to the European Union and said Bulgaria and Slovakia had much to offer in the defence sector.
“If we do not manufacture or sell it, someone else will,” the Slovak prime minister said, noting Bulgaria’s established traditions in the industry.
Fico added that the two governments shared the same position on the EU Cohesion Fund.
Regarding the war in Ukraine, both prime ministers said the conflict had no military solution.
“I am not pleased with the way the EU is supporting the war. The European Union needs more diplomacy,” Fico said. | BGNES