site.btaParliament Chair Karayancheva: Preserving EU's Unity Is Only Way to Overcome Challenges

Sofia/Tallinn, April 24 (BTA) - Speaking at the Conference of Speakers of the EU Parliaments in Tallinn on Tuesday, Bulgarian National Assembly Chair Tsveta Karayancheva told her EU colleagues that preserving the Union's unity and protecting their common interests is the only way to overcome the various challenges, such as terrorism, security, instability along the external borders, migration, cyber attacks, climate change, demographic and social inequalities. She delivered a speech during a session on the future of the EU, the National Assembly's press centre said Tuesday.

Karayancheva went on to say that the EU's unity can be preserved and strengthened, including in the context of Brexit, through greater and deeper integration. According to her, this process needs to continue developing through the accession of the Western Balkans based on the confirmed EU perspective of the region. Without the Western Balkans European integration remains an incomplete project, and the EU perspective continues to be a powerful stimulus for those who strive for peace, freedom, prosperity and democracy, Karayancheva added.

Both to the east and west of Bulgaria there is political instability and serious challenges in the area of security, the National Assembly Chair said. In her words, the protection of the EU's external borders is one of the most important tasks and the Union should support the Member States affected the most by migration problems.

On the sidelines of the conference, Karayancheva held bilateral talks with Germany's Bundestag President Wolfgang Schauble with whom she discussed the bilateral relations and active political dialogue at all levels.

The two gave a high mark to the active parliamentary cooperation and productive talks between the Bundestag delegation and Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva and parliamentary European Affairs and Oversight of European Funds Committee Chairman Kristian Vigenin in March.

"Germany is our strategic partner, trusted ally and longtime friend," Karayancheva said. She thanked for Germany's support and shared experience in connection to the Bulgarian EU Council Presidency, as well as for the assistance in areas of key importance for Bulgaria, such as judicial reform, domestic security, border control and protection, economy, and dual education. She underscored that Bulgaria relies on Germany's support for a speedy entry in Schengen.

Karayancheva acquainted her German counterpart with Bulgaria's efforts in the fight against crime and the reforms in the judicial system, and noted the favourable conditions for investors and business in this country. "Every German investor is important to us and is welcome in Bulgaria," she added.

Karayancheva and Schauble confirmed their readiness to broaden the productive dialogue and cooperation between their countries' parliaments. The Bundestag President accepted Karayancheva's invitation to pay an official visit to Bulgaria.

The National Assembly Chair also held talks with her Macedonian counterpart, Talat Xhaferi. She congratulated him on the European Commission's latest report recommending the start of EU accession negotiations with Macedonia and Albania. Xhafeir thanked for Bulgaria's support in Macedonia's progress towards full membership in the EU. He and Karayancheva yet again noted the positive effect on Macedonia's EU integration process of the signing of the bilateral Treaty of Friendship, Good-neighbourliness and Cooperation.