site.btaPresident Radev on Second Day of Arraiolos Group Meeting

107 POLITICS - PRESIDENT - ARRAIOLOS GROUP - amp1

President Radev
on Second Day
of Arraiolos Group Meeting


Riga, September 14 (BTA) - In the debate on the future of the
European Union, Bulgaria and Portugal share the view that the
bloc should strengthen its status as a community promoting
growth, jobs and social and economic integration. This
transpired after the two countries' presidents Rumen Radev and
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa met in the sidelines of the 14th
Arraiolos Group Meeting in the Latvian capital Riga, Radev's
press secretariat reported on Friday.

The two concurred that it is important to bridge the development
gap between the "old" and the "new" member states of the EU in
order to reinforce the bloc's unity.

Radev and Rebelo de Sousa discussed ways to expand cooperation
between Bulgaria and Portugal in view of tackling the problems
associated with migration. They also looked at bilateral
cooperation in defence and security, the fight against
terrorism, law enforcement and judicial matters.

The Portuguese President will visit Bulgaria in the first half
of 2019 at the invitation of his counterpart.

Portugal supports Bulgaria's accession to the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development, Rebelo de Sousa said.
Radev expressed his expectation that Sofia will start membership
negotiations shortly.

Radev thanked Rebelo de Sousa for the good treatment accorded to
the Bulgarian community in Portugal. Some 13,000 Bulgarians
live in Portugal and are well-integrated in the country's
economic and cultural landscape.

Later, President Radev and his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier discussed ideas to develop the EU and the risk of Europe's fragmentation. The meeting was held at Steinmeier's initiative. The two heads of State discussed prospects to enhance bilateral cooperation.

The German President accepted Radev's invitation to visit Bulgaria in order to continue dialogue between Bulgaria and Germany at the highest level. LI/VE,PP