site.btaVice President Yotova: Europe at Several Speeds Results from Wrong and Nearsighted Policy

Vice President Yotova: Europe at Several Speeds
Results from Wrong and
Nearsighted Policy


Brussels, June7 (BTA Correspondent Nikolay Jeliazkov) - Bulgarian Vice President Iliyana Yotova Wednesday slammed the plans for future development of the EU at several speeds. "The project for Europe at various speeds is the result of a wrong and nearsighted policy of the EU over the last two mandates of the European Commission: weak leadership and shunning responsibility not only in relation to foreign policy and security but also for the finances and social policy," the Vice President told Bulgarian journalists in Brussels.

She said that policies based only on austerity killed economic growth and made weak states even weaker and others even more encapsulated. "This has led to development of Europe in various directions and at various speeds. This is no plan - this is the reality," she commented.

Yotova expressed concern over the delay of the discussion on the next EU financial framework after 2020. According to her experience as MEP, the discussion of the next budget begins at least three years before the current budget expires. The Bulgarian Vice President has learnt that now this is no longer the case because of Brexit and the elections in Germany.

"The structure of the budget will show whether the European Commission is giving up the cohesion policy. I hope sincerely that there will be a strong lobby of countries for which the cohesion policy is the topmost reason for being part of the EU," she said.

She argued that the financial instruments which are offered as substitutes of the cohesion policy are adequate for all countries. "This will inevitably bring political disappointment," she said.

For Bulgaria, with its EU Council Presidency beginning in January next year, the cohesion policy is one of the main priorities, the Vice President said, saying that it is important for her country to find allies in the southern part of Europe - "and why not in the western part as well".

Yotova also said that the hearing of the Bulgarian nominee for European commissioner, Mariya Gabriel, will be around June 20.

The Bulgarian Vice President is in Brussels to take part in a conference on the EU cohesion policy in mountain areas. PK/BR/LN/
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