Web hosting Custom Email SiteBuilder

Ninety years ago Bulgaria and The Netherlands established official diplomatic relations. From 1916 on ? for several years ? the Embassy in The Hague remained an exclusive channel for the communications with the then Entente countries, whereas the Bulgarian-Dutch relations virtually substituted Bulgaria?s links with the rest of Europe.

By the end of the century these bilateral relations once again acquired tremendous importance and confirmed their truly European nature. The Netherlands supports unequivocally modern Bulgaria in its return to the European family of nations, and, in particular, in its aspirations to EU membership. In Bosnia and in Kosovo Bulgarian troops participate in the respective NATO missions within the Dutch battalions, approbating on the ground their future interaction as allies in NATO.

In 1999 the Netherlands became a leading foreign investor in Bulgaria, a major trding partner and an important advocate of Bulgaria?s interests in the IMF and the World Bank, were the country belongs to the Dutch regional group. In addition to the Dutch financial support through existing and emerging multilateral frameworks (i.e. the Stability Pact), the Netherlands contribute to Bulgaria?s successful transition through bilateral assistance programs such as the PSO programs on the economic side or the MATRA programs designed to strengthen the civil society and the democratic institutions.

For me it was a thrilling and a rewarding experience to witness Bulgaria and the Netherlands engage in an unprecedented and meaningful exchange. The climax of it became the State Visit to Bulgaria of H.M. Queen Beatrix and H.R.H. Prince Claus in Oktober 1999. For it ushered the most successful ever Bulgarian-Dutch relations into the new century and into their new dimensions.
 
 

FONT SIZE=+2>Back to index