site.btaDonald Tusk to Visit Bulgaria

Donald Tusk to Visit Bulgaria

Sofia, March 22 (BTA) - In a telephone conversation President Rumen Radev thanked European Council President Donald Tusk for his support for the inclusion of Cohesion Policy in the Rome Declaration, which will be adopted by the EU state and government leaders on March 25, Radev's press secretariat said. The conversation took place on his initiative.

During the March 10 discussion on the future of united Europe which took place during the European Council meeting, President Radev expressly asked that Cohesion Policy be included in the Rome Declaration, the press release says. Cohesion Policy, which is about reducing economic disparities among the EU Member States, promotes unity in the EU.

Tusk will visit Bulgaria in early April for a first-hand look at the situation in the region and the protection of the EU's external borders. Tusk assured the Bulgarian President of his support for Radev's letter which calls for the adoption of an EU operational action plan in case of a sharp increase in migrant pressure, as well as for further financial support for Bulgaria's border protection.

Radev detailed Tusk on the preparations for the March 26 parliamentary elections in Bulgaria and the tension in its relations with Turkey over its interference in the election campaign and Bulgaria's internal affairs.

The two also discussed the charges brought by a Turkish court against Bulgarian border guards over an incident which occurred after a violation of the EU's external borders in 2008. Radev said Bulgaria firmly stands up for the border guards and expects the EU to show solidarity.