site.btaSocialists in Bulgarian, European Parliament with Joint Initiative for Bulgaria's Entry in Schengen

Lisbon, December 2 (BTA) - On December 13, the Party of European Socialists (PES) will initiate a common discussion in the European Parliament on Bulgaria's entry in the Schengen area, and the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) will do the same in Bulgaria's National Assembly, BSP leader Kornelia Ninova said in Lisbon, where she took part in Saturday's PES Council. She specified that her party will table a draft common declaration with the hope of it receiving the support of all MPs, in the name of Bulgaria's national interest.

At the PES Council, Ninova insisted on a common PES position against the varying quality of food in Europe, the BSP press service reported.

Speaking about the forthcoming Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council at a key moment for the European Union, she said that Europe should obviously be changed in order to be saved. "This change does not require that we come up with something completely new. We should simply return to where Europe started, i.e. to its core values: solidarity, justice, and equal opportunities for all European citizens," the BSP leader said.

In Lisbon Ninova attended a working breakfast with the leaders and prime ministers of European Socialist and Social Democratic parties, including Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, the BSP press service also said. The participants discussed the budget for the next programming period and the effect of Brexit.

Ninova also met with European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu. They discussed the Bulgarian EU Presidency and the vision for the EU's future adopted at the BSP Congress.