Accents

Slovak Ambassador Carol Mistrik: Energy security is impossible for us without our nuclear plants

Bulgaria’s progress is most visible in infrastructure development, the bar is set high, do not pull it down, the diplomat advises

Your Excellency, you are now 4 years in Bulgaria, are there any changes, can you see any progress in our country? I arrived in your country soon after its accession to the EU and I am a witness how much it has changed since then and what importance is the EU membership. This membership brings so fundamental change in all aspects of public life that it would be unrealistic to expect the final results in five years. We should have in mind that for any of our countries it was not a goal but only means, we do not speak about a single act but about a process that should provide citizens with free and dignified life in a united Europe based on shared values and standards. Despite skepticism that is often felt in the mood of the people, I think that Bulgaria is on the right track. How do you rate the investment climate in Bulgaria? Does the Slovak business have interest in our country and where would you direct this interest? After years of cautiousness, Slovak businessmen begin to find the Bulgarian market again and our embassy provides them with intensive support and assistance. The recent official visit of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov in Slovakia had a strong economic focus. The two prime ministers opened a cooperative exchange organized by the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency, partner of which was Bulgaria and it was attended by representatives of the economic ministries and Bulgarian business delegation. What do you think our government has decided to ask the people for the construction of the Belene NPP? Nuclear power for Slovakia is an important part of this mix, because it reduces air toxic emissions and ensures a stable price for the electricity produced in a nuclear plant. Slovakia finishes the third and fourth reactor in Mochovce NPP and is interested in building a new nuclear plant unit in Yaslovske Bohunice. As our Prime Minister Robert Fico recently confirmed, in Slovakia we cannot imagine the energy security without our nuclear plants which have a high standard. Construction has major contribution to growth in business climate in late 2012 Businesses show more optimism at the end of 2012, as construction and trade have the main contribution, according to recent data of the National Statistical Institute. In December, the composite business climate indicator in construction increased by 3.6 percentage points from November. This is mainly due to the more optimistic expectations of construction entrepreneurs about the business situation of enterprises over the next six months. The worry of managers is to the growing number of clients with delays in payments. The uncertain economic environment remains the factor limiting most the activity in the sector, as the latest survey reports reinforcement of the negative impact of factors “financial problems” and “competition in the industry”. Expectations of the majority of construction entrepreneurs are selling prices to remain unchanged over the next three months.