site.btaPresident Radev: Bulgaria Expects Stronger EU Support in Case of Sharp Migration Increase

President Radev: Bulgaria Expects Stronger EU Support in Case of Sharp Migration Increase

Berlin, February 6 (BTA special correspondent Lora Metanova) - Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said in Berlin on Monday that his country expects stronger commitment from all other EU member states to support it in the event of a sharp increase in cross-border migration, assist the readmission of illegal migrants who have reached Bulgaria, and back Sofia's bid for prompt entry to the Schengen border-free area.

Radev was speaking at a joint news conference with German President Joachim Gauck in Bellevue Palace. The Bulgarian President was paying an official visit to Germany.

Radev said Bulgaria has fulfilled all technical requirements for Schengen membership and has proven that it is protecting Europe's external borders according to Schengen standards. He said: "The fact that some individual countries do not yet accept Bulgaria as a well-prepared candidate for Schengen membership means that the technical criteria have been mixed up with political and other criteria. Bulgaria cannot protect these brorders effectively unless it has access to the visa information system, the Schengen information system. Its lack of access to these systems increases the risk to all European citizens."

To deal with the migration crisis, Sofia counts on even stronger European solidarity, which means providing not only personnel, equipment and resources but also support for long-term planning of operations. "Bulgaria is making every effort at its external border to protect all European citizens and bears its share of solidarity," Radev said.

He noted that Europe needs to have mechanisms for rapid and flexible solutions. "Europe's strength should be not in quelling crises but in foreseeing and defusing them," he said, adding that the strength of the EU lies in solidarity.

Radev said Germany is the first individual country he is visiting as President after taking office in late January, which is a sign of the great importance of the two nations' relationship. He described Germany as a strategic economic and investment partner to Bulgaria. He said both Sofia and Berlin want united Europe to be strong, prosperous and safe. Radev sees a huge potential for bilateral cooperation. He said Bulgaria is open to German businesses and will work even harder to make its own business environment stable and predictable.

There is firm determination in Bulgaria to pool the efforts of all institutions, civic organizations, political parties and the entire society for effective fight against corruption and crime, for creating transparent and clear conditions for business, Radev said. He noted that Bulgaria's relations with Germany will not be limited to the domains of security and business but will also include science, education and cultural exchange.

Gauck emphasized the importance of Bulgaria's active commitment to the protection of the EU's external border. In the coming months and years, Europe will have to adopt a new orientation. It should be explained to as many people as possible how successful and beneficial the European project is. The majority of the Germans have a positive attitude towards Europe, he said. Bulgaria's future lies in the European model, that is why the Germans should realize that the European idea should be strengthened in Bulgaria through acts of solidarity, the German President said.

Gauck stated that Germany and Europe are also interested in the domestic challenge facing Bulgaria - the fight against corruption. He expressed a hope that after a long period of efforts in this direction there would soon be results.

Before their meeting, the two heads of State talked with Bulgarian and German school students, who attended the welcome ceremony. The Bulgarian students told journalists they wanted to see the Bulgarian President and were impressed with the ceremony.

Addressing an Economic Forum on Bulgaria, Radev said it is a stable country, an island of stability in the Balkans, despite the early parliamentary elections and caretaker government. He singled out his country's political stability and clear priorities, and emphasized its achievements: real economic growth, close to zero per cent inflation, a jobless rate of 8 per cent, and export growth.

"We set great store by creating a good business climate which will attract investments so we can persuade people that it is worth investing in Bulgaria," said Radev, noting low tax rates and the Bulgarians' willingness to develop their country as some of the upsides.

The President admitted that there are downsides as well: Bulgaria still has some way to go in creating a stable, transparent environment; some regions do not have an adequate infrastructure; and there is a shortage of skilled labour. "However, we have a roadmap and are aware of the tasks ahead," said Radev.

"My role as President is to pool the efforts of the institutions and society for a resolute fight against corruption and crime. I am confident that we will see positive results very soon," Radev said. "We have been trying to make the best possible use of EU funds, to build a good infrastructure instrumental to business development, and to support education and science. Education is a priority in all party platforms."

Radev recalled that the international rating agencies had assigned his country a positive credit rating.

Addressing potential investors, Radev said Bulgaria is open to dialogue and cooperation. "You will find a good basis, which will guarantee a good return on investment," he said. Radev expressed a conviction that Germany would keep up its proactive approach to investments in Bulgaria, and recalled that German investments had increased. "Good business relations between two countries form a bridge for good relations in science, education, culture and all other areas of public and political life," he said.

He stressed that he was making his first official visit as President to Germany, which is Bulgaria's traditional strategic partner. The sum total of investments in Bulgaria does not matter most, he said. What matters most is that these investments introduce a new model of social relations in Bulgaria: no tolerance for imperfections, low tolerance for corruption, and a vision for a modern European society, said Radev.