Senior officials from northern Greece are in Sofia for a two-day visit to deepen cross-border partnerships with Bulgaria and highlight the strategic importance of Balkan cooperation within the European Union.
The initiative, led by Deputy Interior Minister for Macedonia and Thrace Konstantinos Gioulekas, brings together business leaders, academics and local government representatives from both sides of the border. Meetings at the Sofia Balkan Hotel focused on identifying new areas of bilateral cooperation, from infrastructure and transport to energy, education and local governance.
Addressing the forum, Bulgaria's Regional Development Minister Ivan Ivanov described Bulgaria-Greece ties as "a strategic choice between two European Union member states that opens many opportunities". He stressed that continued cooperation is essential amid current geopolitical pressures and rising state competition. Particular emphasis was placed on a trilateral memorandum between Bulgaria, Greece and Romania to develop a corridor linking the Black Sea to the Aegean, which he called "a strategic issue for the integration of the Balkans into the global economy".
Ivanov also highlighted the strong performance of joint projects under the EU's Interreg programme, noting that resource absorption exceeds 80%. "With joint efforts and cooperation, we can accelerate the implementation of the programmes to absorb the entire amount of Interreg, which amounts to approximately 84 million euros, with benefits for both countries," he said, framing infrastructure modernisation and strategic projects as a "common responsibility".
Bulgaria's Deputy Finance Minister Metodi Metodiev pointed to the country's recent steps towards deeper EU integration, including accession to Schengen and adoption of the euro. He argued that full integration would boost trade, tourism and services, adding that euro adoption would strengthen commercial efficiency.
In 2025, visits by Bulgarian citizens to Greece rose by 24.5% compared with 2024, while Greeks accounted for 10% of all visitors to Bulgaria. Greece currently ranks seventh among foreign investors in Bulgaria, with officials suggesting there is significant scope for expansion.
Greek-Bulgarian business ties expand
More than 40 Greek companies and 180 Bulgarian firms took part in the forum in Sofia. The strong turnout was described by Tsvetan Simeonov, President of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as "a good proof that we are moving in the right direction".
Simeonov pointed to Bulgaria's recent milestones, including accession to the Schengen area and adoption of the euro, as signals of stability and deeper European integration. At the same time, he addressed what he called two "concerns and challenges that are heard publicly lately" in Greek-Bulgarian business relations.
The first concerns rising Bulgarian property purchases in northern Greece, particularly in coastal areas popular with holidaymakers. "No one invests somewhere where they do not feel safe," he said, adding that these properties are often upgraded and later used to attract visitors, thereby strengthening tourism flows in the region.
The second issue concerns Greek investment in Bulgaria. More than 3,000 companies of Greek interest operate in Bulgaria, of which around 900 are registered with 100% Greek capital. "It is very positive when businesses from a foreign country invest with 100% of their capital and develop in Bulgaria without expecting support from the state; this is a sign of significant trust," he noted, describing it as a positive message to other international investors.
The Sofia mission is the first stop on a broader Balkan tour by the Macedonia and Thrace ministry, aimed at strengthening ties among productive sectors. The Greek delegation includes representatives from five universities in Macedonia and Thrace, three regional authorities, major chambers of commerce in Thessaloniki, leading export bodies, and the ports of Thessaloniki, Kavala and Alexandroupoli, alongside Enterprise Greece. Bulgarian universities, local authorities, business associations and port representatives from Varna, Burgas and Ruse also participated.
By Areti Tassoula - adapted from Greek by Vassia Barba
