site.btaEuropean Commissioners Avramopoulos, Jourova Discuss in Sofia Priorities in Justice, Home Affairs during Upcoming Bulgarian Presidency of European Council

Sofia, October 26 (BTA) - European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos and European Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality Vera Jourova, who are on a visit to Sofia, discussed Thursday the priorities in area of justice and home affairs during the upcoming Bulgarian Presidency of the European Council.

President Radev: Solidarity and Common European Policy in Asylum Granting

The clear definition and endorsement of the principle of solidarity in the European Union and improving the common European policy in the granting of asylum will be key topics during the Bulgarian EU Presidency, President Rumen Radev said, quoted by his press secretariat, at a meeting Thursday with European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos.

At the focus of the talks were the creation of response mechanisms in sudden migratory flows at the EU borders and the measures at European level that are to be taken to guarantee the security of the EU citizens, without infringing on their rights.

Avramopoulos said that the EC pins high hopes on Bulgaria for steering negotiations in the area of granting of asylum and ensuring security during the country's EU Presidency. The EC official said that Bulgaria has experience in border protection, that it is one of the front-line countries of the migratory flows to Europe and that the country was subject to serious migratory pressure in recent years. Avramopoulos expressed certainty that during the present crucial time for Europe Bulgaria will be remembered as a country who has carried out its duty to foster the European values.

Avramopoulos confirmed that Bulgaria meets the technical criteria for joining the Schengen Area and expressed a hope that consensus will be reached in the European Council in short terms to proceed to full membership of the country in the visa-free space.

Radev said that "the existence of unwritten criteria about joining the Schengen Area is not fair in respect of the European citizens".

PM Borissov

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov Thursday held a meeting with Avramopoulos and with Jourova, the government's information service said.

The participants in the talks discussed questions about the functions of the new European Public Prosecutor's Office, the security of the external borders of the EU, the asylum system, the package vis-a-vis the Dublin regulation, and counter-terrorism measures. The officials analysed the geo-political situation in Europe and stressed the positive role of the Bulgarian Prime Minister for the peace and security in the countries of the Western Balkans.

Deputy PM Zaharieva

In Sofia Jourova also conferred with Deputy Prime Minister for Judicial Reform and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva, Zaharieva's Ministry said in a press release.

The two discussed the judicial reform, the progress under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism, and the upcoming Bulgarian Presidency of the European Council.

Jourova assessed in positive terms the tabling of the question about the European perspective of the Western Balkans by the upcoming Bulgarian EU Presidency.

Zaharieva said that Bulgaria's stand is that a hand should be extended to these countries so that the efforts - in respect of investments but also in respect of the political progress - reach the ordinary people. "Otherwise, we will lose the Western Balkans for the European family," she said, noting that the six candidate countries from the Western Balkans should be considered on the merit of their individual achievements and not as a whole package. "The opposite de-motivates the advanced applicants, and does not benefit those who lag behind," Zaharieva said.

Jourova said that political debates on the Western Balkans are forthcoming at the European Council and the specific knowledge Bulgaria possesses on the matter is of key importance.

As reported earlier by the office of Prosecutor General Sotir Tsatsarov, a joint meeting was held between Tsatsarov, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and cabinet ministers with European Commissioners Vera Jourova, Dimitris Avramopoulos and Mariya Gabriel.

The participants in the talks discussed Bulgaria's preparation for the upcoming European Council Presidency, the creation of the European Public Prosecutor's Office, and recommendations in the report on Bulgaria under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism.