site.btaNational Assembly Chairman Glavchev Takes Part in Conference of Speakers of EU Parliaments in Bratislava

National Assembly Chairman Glavchev Takes Part in Conference of Speakers of  EU Parliaments in Bratislava

Bratislava/Sofia, April 24 (BTA) - As a country holding the rotating Presidency of the EU Council in 2018, Bulgaria will actively work for attaining a unified vision about the future of the EU, Bulgarian National Assembly Chairman Dimiter Glavchev said, speaking the Conference of Speakers of EU Parliaments in Bratislava, Slovakia, the National Assembly said in a press release Monday.

On the agenda of the event are discussions of the future of the European Union as a global factor in the context of the current changes, and the role of the national parliaments.

Glavchev said that Bulgaria will work for a stable foundation of the future EU, based on the principles of freedom, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, rule of law, and basic social rights.

He stressed that the effectiveness in applying the principles of solidarity and cohesion as guiding principles of the integration are of key importance for keeping the European unity, attaining convergence, financial stability and economic growth.

Glavchev stressed the importance the EU uniting around a common vision for its future. He said that Bulgaria supports the process of creating an ever closer union between the peoples of Europe, where the decisions are made as close as possible to the citizens.

In his speech Glavchev highlighted the main challenges facing the EU now: guaranteeing the security of the borders and of people, provision of jobs, economic growth and competitive environment, standing up against populism and Euro-scepticism. Dwelling on the process of Britain's leaving the EU, the Bulgarian Parliament Speaker said that the key priority is reaching at an early stage mutual guarantees for the status of the European and British citizens affected by Brexit.

The participants in the forum also discussed the parliamentary dimension of Slovakia's EU Presidency and Malta's EU Presidency.

President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani congratulated Glavchev on his election as Chairman of the Bulgarian Parliament.