site.btaVice President Yotova: Cohesion Policy Should Be Included among Priorities

Sofia, October 10 (BTA) - One of the challenges before the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU is the multiannual financial framework, Vice President Iliyana Yotova said and voiced hope that the discussion for the next budgeting period will begin within the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU. She was speaking at an international conference "The Future of Europe and the Bulgarian Perspective" at the House of Europe on Tuesday.

She defined allegations that the cohesion policy is doomed as a mythologem and noted that the Government should include this policy among its priorities.

She quoted a poll carried out by Europol showing that 80 per cent of the European citizens expect more efforts on the part of Europe in the fight against terrorism. "However, focusing on terrorism we forget that almost as much citizens insist on coping with other challenges, such as unemployment, social inequality, environment protection, etc.

Speaking about the foreign political priorities, she noted that the focus on the EU integration of the Western Balkans is one of the most far-sighted proposals related to the Bulgarian Presidency.

Minister for the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Liliyana Pavlova said that one of Europe's problems is the unequal treatment of the member states. "Conditions are set which seem objective but then are subjectively assessed," Pavlova said quoting as an example the Shengen criteria which Bulgaria has fulfilled long ago but is not yet admitted to the Schengen Area. At the same time, member states which violate these criteria are not sanctioned, she observed.

Pavlova also mentioned the question of the EU accession of the Western Balkans. In her opinion, now it is the right moment to pay special attention to the Western Balkans without giving unrealistic promises. The Western Balkans are a priority in three aspects: clear European perspective and a clear action plan, security and migration, connectivity - road, energy, digital, said the Minister.

Former EU commissioner Mario Monti said at the news conference that he is encouraged by the government's approach to the Presidency. In his opinion the risk of desintegration of Europe has begun to decline. Monti believes that the referendum on the UK's withdrawal from the EU has not had a "contagious effect" and, on the contrary, the support for the Union has increased in many countries and the turnout at elections is also higher.