site.btaFrench President Emmanuel Macron: Bulgaria Has Met Schengen Membership Criteria

Varna, on the Black Sea, August 25 (BTA) - "Bulgaria has met the criteria and can become a full member of the Schengen area," French President Emmanuel Macron told a news briefing at Euxinograd Palace near Varna after meeting with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev on Friday.

Macron is visiting Bulgaria on a joint invitation by President Radev and Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.

The guest said that during Friday's talks the two sides agreed on active cooperation. According to Macron, one of the issues of shared concern is the need to review migration and asylum rules. He said that he and Radev had concurred that the two countries should work together on matters of defence. Paris and Sofia also need to cooperate for an economic and financial upturn in the EU, the French President said.

Radev stated: "I am happy to welcome President Macron 10 years after the latest visit by a French president to Bulgaria." Radev sees a major leap forward in bilateral relations. He stressed the need to promote business-to-business contacts and to encourage partnership in tourism, science and culture.

In Radev's words, Bulgaria has a strategic relationship with France which is becoming ever more important in the context of Bulgaria's EU membership. He expects the two countries to coordinate their efforts in working out common positions about the EU agenda, with a focus on security and defence, the migrant crisis, the Bulgarian EU Presidency, and a socially sensitive Europe. MORE TO FOLLOW