site.btaPM Borissov Addresses Participants in Bled Forum

Bled/Sofia, August 31 (BTA) - Addressing the Bled Strategic
Forum on Monday, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov
advocated EU-wide standards for rolling out Covid response
measures, said the government information service. He called
that "a medical shield" and said it is a matter of emergency for
 the EU countries to have it. 

The "EU shield" idea is based on colour codes - red, yellow and
green - determined on the basis of the caseloads in the member
states, with standard measures for each code.

Borissov also said that each country should provide a green
corridor for the transport of goods and called for a "global
approach" with regard to protection wear, vaccines and medicines
 for coronavirus.

"We were not ready for the pandemic. In March we vied which
country would be first to close its borders. Bulgaria showed
solidarity, produced protective clothing for medics, helmets and
 masks, and sent them to whomever asked for them in Europe,"
Borissov said.

Borissov and leaders of Central and South-Eastern Europe are
discussing the future of the Community after Brexit and the
COVID-19 pandemic.

The Bulgarian government leader vowed support for the initiative
 of EC President Ursula von der Leyen for a global response to
the pandemic which has already gathered some 16 billion euro.
 
He commended the adaptation of the Trio presiding the Council of
 the EU - Germany, Portugal and Slovenia - to the challenges of
the pandemic and focusing efforts on quick economic and social
recovery leading to more sustainability for Europe.

Borissov focused on the significance of the future of the
countries in the Western Balkans, stating that Europe should
remain committed to their integration.

"We should continue to support the reform process in these
countries. It is important to maintain good neighborly relations
 that will contribute to social and economic development,"
Borissov said.

The Bulgarian Prime Minister also spoke about the challenge of
Brexit, stating that the main priority is to have the closest
cooperation possible. "It is particularly important for Bulgaria
 to guarantee the rights of its citizens after Brexit, along
with cooperation in various fields," he added.

The forum in Slovenia is hosted by Slovenian Foreign Minister
Logar and Slovenian President Borut Pahor, and is also attended
by the prime ministers of the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary,
Croatia, and the President of Serbia, among other senior
officials.

Since its establishment in 2005, the Bled Strategic Forum has
become an important platform for discussions by leaders and
stakeholders from Central and Eastern Europe on finding
solutions to the challenges in modern European societies.

Bilateral meetings

Before the start of the forum, Borissov conferred with Deputy
Assistant Secretary at the US Department of State, Bureau of
European and Eurasian Affairs, Matthew G. Boyse. The two
discussed the Three Seas initiative, in which Bulgaria
participates along with another 11 European nations.

Borissov noted that the initiative is a pragmatic platform for
cooperation in the field of trade and economy.

"Stronger Bulgarian-American trade and economic relations will
be important in the period of economic recovery after the
pandemic," Borissov said.

The sides also discussed issues in the field of energy, security
 and defence.

Borissov also conferred with Slovenian Prime Minister Janez
Jansa and discussed with him regional cooperation and bilateral
relations, as well as issues from the EU agenda. They concurred
that the initiatives and forums for regional partnership
complement the process toward political, economic and social
stability in the Western Balkans. 

In a Facebook post on a meeting with Hungary's Viktor Orban,
Borissov said that he "highly values the friendly relations
between Bulgaria and Hungary" and believes that they will stay
like this in the future. He also wrote that the two discussed
the challenges of Covid-19, adding that "how we handle and
emerge from the crisis, will be indicative for the EU". RY,NV/BR