site.btaPrime Minister and GERB Leader Borissov Confers with EPP President Daul in Sofia

Sofia, March 9 (BTA) - Bulgarian Prime Minister and GERB Chairman Boyko Borissov held a working meeting with European People Party President Joseph Daul in Sofia on Thursday evening, the Government Information Service said.

"Bulgaria and the other new EU Member States attach paramount importance to the Multiannual Financial Framework. What is important is that the framework should focus on the main priorities and take account of the needs for advancement in particular key areas like infrastructure connectivity, education, innovation and EU external border protection," Borissov said during the meeting.

He pointed out that, as holder of the EU Council Presidency, Bulgaria is actively working for finding common ground between Member States on all current items on the European agenda. "We are among the Member States that joined the EU most recently but, at the same time, we are among the most disciplined ones. This is evidenced by the projected 4.2 per cent GDP growth in 2018. Besides this, Bulgaria protects very well the EU external border which reassures our partners," the PM stressed.

Borissov and Daul concurred that their parties' "Spitzenkandidaten" process for the next European Parliament elections in 2019 must be retained. In that process, European political parties designate one candidate each for the post of EU Commission President ahead of the European elections.

The host assured his guest that GERB and the government majority in the Bulgarian Parliament will continue to maintain this country's pro-European spirit because Euro-Atlanticism is the only and best possible road for Bulgaria. The two also discussed the significance of the European perspective for the Western Balkans.

"The European People's Party highly appreciates the performance of the Government and the parliamentary majority around GERB in the National Assembly," Daul said on Friday over a working breakfast with GERB Floor Leader and GERB Party Deputy Chairman Tsvetan Tsvetanov.