Ms Tsetska Tsacheva, President of the Bulgarian National Assembly, was in Switzerland with a delegation of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria for an official working visit from 15 to 17 March 2016. The delegation included Mr Aliosman Imamov, Vice President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria; Ms Silviya Hubenova, President of the Bulgaria-Switzerland Parliamentary Friendship Group; and members of parliament Mr Tasko Ermenkov and Mr Dimitar Shishkov.
Christa Markwalder, President of the National Council, received the Bulgarian delegation at the Franz Gertsch Museum in Burgdorf upon their arrival. On the following day, the delegation met in Parliament for formal discussions.
Ms Tsacheva highlighted the good relations between Switzerland and Bulgaria during the meeting with her counterpart, during talks with Mr Raphaël Comte, President of the Council of States, and during a courtesy visit to the President of the Swiss Confederation, Johann Schneider-Ammann. Several bilateral visits over the past few years have intensified these relations. In terms of economic relations, bilateral trade has recovered from the downturn in 2008-2009 and has at times again registered double-digit growth rates.
Under the enlargement contribution, Switzerland is providing a grant of financial assistance to Bulgaria to help reduce economic and social disparities in the enlarged EU. Projects will be implemented by 2019 and include in particular the infrastructure and environmental fields, with a special focus on toxic waste, public transport and improving the framework conditions for the private sector. Ms Tsacheva thanked her hosts for their contribution.
Bulgaria holds the chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe until May 2016 and will hold the EU Presidency in the second half of 2018. In this context, Ms Tsacheva and her delegation exchanged views with representatives of the EFTA/EU delegation and members of the Council of Europe.