site.btaEuropean Parliament President Tajani Talks with Bulgarian Leaders

Sofia, November 21 (BTA) - European Parliament (EP) President Antonio Tajani opened his working visit to Bulgaria Tuesday with a meeting with Prime Minister Boyko Borissov. He also talked with members of the Government and President Rumen Radev, and addressed the National Assembly.

Tajani and the presidents of the eight political groups in the EP are visiting this country in connection with the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2018. The Minister for the EU Presidency, Liliyana Pavlova, is hosting the visit. Diego Canga Fano, Head of Cabinet of Antonio Tajani, and the European Parliament's Secretary General Klaus Welle are also on the delegation.

Prime Minister Borissov: I am confident that we will have the rare chance to make real progress towards the EU accession of the Western Balkans

Borissov and Tajani told a joint news conference that they discussed the responsibilities during Bulgaria's EU Council Presidency and the European perspective and connectedness of the countries of the Western Balkans.

The meeting focused on migration problems, the fight against terrorism, and economic growth, said Tajani. The sides concurred on all matters. He expressed a readiness to work with the Bulgarian EU Council Presidency and said that he received answers to all questions. The sides also discussed stability in the Middle East, relations with Turkey and the situation in the Balkans.

Borissov said: "Many views were heard and many policies were declared today. The Bulgarian EU Presidency can meet the challenges every single moment. I am optimistic and I am confident that with the EP's support we will have the rare chance [to make] real progress towards the EU accession of the Western Balkans."

Tajani stressed that the situation in the Balkans is a priority for the EU and the European Parliament. He noted their commitment to strengthening ties and to the region's perspective. In January he will visit Serbia, Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina as a sign of the EU's attention. He added that he attached a great importance to the Bulgarian EU Presidency which can be very helpful because Bulgaria is very cognisant of the situation in the region. Tajani said he would meet with Borissov and the Bulgarian government for more details before his visit to the Western Balkans.

Borissov said: "We are not setting ourselves huge goals for our EU Presidency, nor are we overextending ourselves. We want to offer perspective not to the political elites but to the young people in the region," Borissov said, stressing the importance of building infrastructure, not just roads and ports but also digital infrastructure.

Borissov said that Bulgaria's position is that the agreement with Turkey about migrants needs to continue to be observed. "No matter how much it costs us, these people should better stay outside of the EU," the Prime Minister said, stressing that the matter is not Turkey's accession to the EU but preserving the good relations "because the country is a NATO member, the biggest partner in the Alliance's southern wing". Borissov warned against avoiding the topic. Instead, "things must be clearly articulated and the relations, normalized".

Tajani said he thought that Europe should play a greater part in solving the problems in the world. The EU has its foreign policy, it must speak in one voice, and take account not just of the eastern borders but Africa too, Tajani said.

Borissov noted that Europe easily let the United States quit the climate agreement. "I strongly sympathize with the European greens. We should win the United States back to the negotiating table on climate change," he said.

In the words of the Prime Minister, it is high time Europe intervened in respect of the situation in Syria, because it is being addressed by the presidents of Russia, the United State and Iran while "we in Europe are quarrelling among ourselves where to relocate the Syrians that will arrive in Europe".

Minister Liliyana Pavlova: Bulgaria would seek dialogue and consensus while holding the rotating EU Presidency

The Minister for the EU Presidency said Bulgaria would seek dialogue and consensus while holding the rotating EU Presidency. Liliyana Pavlova presented the priorities of Bulgaria's EU Council Presidency to Tajani and the presidents of the eight political groups in the EP, who met with the Bulgarian Government, the Council of Ministers' press office said.

Pavlova said: "We have set ourselves the task to meet the needs of Europe's citizens: more security, more stability, more solidarity." Deputy Minister Monika Panayotova will be in the European Parliament for the duration of Bulgaria's EU Council Presidency to ensure direct contact with the MEPs.

During the meeting, the leaders of the political groups put questions to the Prime Minister and ministers about migration, the fight against terrorism, the protection of the external borders, economic growth with an emphasis on the digital economy, and the green economy. Also on the agenda were the situation in the Middle East and Africa, relations with Turkey, the European perspective and connectedness, both among the countries of the Western Balkans and between them and Europe.

President Radev: The citizens of Bulgaria are one of the strongest supporters and champions of EU's unity

"The Bulgarian institutions: Parliament, the Government and the President, are pooling their efforts for the successful conduct of the European Council Presidency," President Rumen Radev said, quoted by his press secretariat, during a meeting with Tajani and the delegation of EP officials led by him. Radev said that the citizens of Bulgaria are one of the strongest supporters and champions of EU's unity.

The Bulgarian President said also that as a country holding the EU Presidency Bulgaria will not pursue narrow national interest but will be a partner and mediator in tackling the pressing challenges facing the community. Radev reiterated that the European integration of the countries of the Western Balkans is in the interest of the EU.

The participants in the meeting confirmed Bulgaria's readiness to join the border-free Schengen area. Radev stressed once again that Bulgaria does not accept the addition of new unwritten criteria, including political ones, given that the country has met all requirements for joining the Schengen area back in 2011.

Radev said further that the cohesion policy is of key importance not only for Bulgaria and Eastern Europe, but for the EU as well, given the desire to have a strong and stable Union wherein all Member States can effectively take part in the common policies.

Radev said that the migration crisis is one of the big challenges before the EU. He argued that EU's open-door policy to migrants should be replaced by support for the efforts of the countries in Africa and the Middle East to improve the conditions for living and development of their citizens.

Tajani expressed assurance that the EP and Bulgaria share common important priorities from the European agenda in the context of the upcoming EU Presidency. Tajani said that migration, terrorism and economic growth are some of the most important topics of the EU. Other priorities are the preparation of the next European budget and reducing youth unemployment. The EP President also said that if the EU wants effective solutions to migration, it should have an active foreign policy and integrated defence capabilities.

Tajani to Parliament: Bulgarian EU Presidency Can Rely on EP's Full Support and Cooperation

Later on Tuesday, the EP President talked with National Assembly Chair Tsveta Karayancheva and addressed Parliament.

In his address, Tajani listed the economic crisis, the unprecedented migration phenomenon, and the threat of terrorism as EU citizens' main concerns. He underscored the importance of the relations between the EP and national parliaments, which are not competing with the European Parliament but are its natural and best allies in bringing Europe's citizens closer to European policies.

The Bulgarian EU Presidency can rely as early as of now on the EP's full support and cooperation, Tajani also said. He congratulated the Bulgarian authorities on the progress achieved in the last years, and noted that Bulgaria has made progress according to the European Commission's latest report under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism. He said that because of its external borders, Bulgaria is key for the European policy on cohesion, security, and management of migration flows. The separate Member States, particularly those at EU's external border, such as Bulgaria, Italy, and Greece, should not be left on their own, he underscored.

In Tajani's words, the EP continues to support, as always, Bulgaria's entry in Schengen and expects an agreement to be achieved soon in the Council of the EU.

The EP President praised the inclusion of the Western Balkans in the priorities of the Bulgarian EU Presidency. "I share your sensitivity and recognition of the strategic importance of the Balkans' integration process; we cannot leave this to the ambitions of other countries outside of Europe," he said.

Tajani concluded his speech in Bulgarian with the motto of the Bulgarian EU Presidency, "United We Stand Strong".

At a meeting with the EP President, BSP for Bulgaria Floor Leader Kornelia Ninova presented him with the Socialists' vision on the future of Europe and Bulgaria's place in it, "More Social Europe in People's Interest", the BSP press centre reported.

Within his working visit to Bulgaria, Tajani also participated in a public discussion with young people at the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia.