site.btaInterparliamentary Conference for CFSP, CSDP Held in Sofia

Sofia, February 16 (BTA) - Parliament Chairperson Tsveta Karayancheva Friday opened the Interparliamentary Conference for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) in Sofia.

The forum, which ends on Saturday, is part of the parliamentary dimension of Bulgaria's EU Council Presidency. The conference is hosted by the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee and Defence Committee.

Participating are more than 200 delegates of the foreign affairs and defence committees of the national parliaments of the EU Member States, the countries of the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership, and members of the European Parliament.

Karayancheva said the European project is the largest peace project of the 20th century. "Before talking about the different speeds of the European project, we should reaffirm our shared vision of its direction and goal," she said. "Now we need a more flexible and integrated approach to strengthen the links among the EU Member States to fight terrorism effectively, deal with the migrant problem, guarantee cybersecurity and cooperate even more actively in defence-related areas."

Karayancheva noted that the Bulgarian EU Presidency prioritizes the conduct of a proactive policy to the Western Balkan countries, which need support for their efforts to become full EU and NATO members.

Dzhema Grozdanova, Chairperson of the Bulgarian Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, and David McAllister, Chair of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs, addressed the participants.

The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, is taking part in the first discussion on "Priorities and Strategies of the EU in the Area of CFSP and CSDP".

"Accelerating Reforms in view of the European Perspective for the Western Balkan Countries to the EU" is the highlight of Day Two of the conference.