site.btaGERB Leader Borissov Confers with British MEP Geoffrey Van Orden

GERB Leader Borissov Confers with British MEP Geoffrey Van Orden

Sofia, April 26 (BTA) - GERB leader Boyko Borissov and Geoffrey Van Orden, MEP from the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, discussed Bulgaria's important role in its upcoming EU Council Presidency and the Brexit negotiations at a meeting here on Wednesday.

Speaking to journalists in Parliament later, the two said that the meeting focused on bilateral ties between Britain and Bulgaria. "We have a mutual interest in having good and strong relations between the two countries, as well as between the EU and Britain," Van Orden said. According to him, Bulgaria will play a very important role during its EU Council Presidency in 2018. Bilateral relations will also change after Brexit, but they can become even stronger, the British MEP said, adding that he trusts a government, headed by Boyko Borissov.

"It was God's will for Bulgaria to be at the centre of things during the most complicated time for Europe, and we must take advantage of this, because it offers various opportunities," said Borissov. According to him, in addition to all of its responsibilities related to the EU Council Presidency, Bulgaria will be very important for the Brexit negotiations. The stability, calm, reason and responsibility before Europe pass through Bulgaria, Borissov commented.

Europe is aware that Bulgaria's Euro-Atlantic orientation will be a dominant factor in the future cabinet's policies, the GERB leader said, adding that this is included in the governance programme's preamble. According to Borissov, there should be a minister in charge of the Bulgarian EU Council Presidency. The Socialists' and Deniza Slateva's refusal to continue being in charge of the EU Council Presidency is destructive, he went on to say. "We offered a pragmatic solution, which can unite us. [Slateva is] an undoubtedly good professional, with a good understanding of the matter, who has worked for three months on this. They [the Socialists] do not want the Presidency, they want to cause destruction, which is the strongest of their conspiratorial actions. No one can reproach me for not having made all the efforts to have stability and unity among the political class to have a good Presidency," Borissov said.