site.btaBulgarian President, European Council President Discuss Security of EU External Border
Bulgarian President, European Council President Discuss Security of EU External Border
Brussels, January 30 (BTA special correspondent Assen Boyadjiev) - Meeting with European Council President Donald Tusk in Brussels Monday, the new Bulgarian President, Rumen Radev, raised issues that are important for his country, including border security, and found understanding, Radev told reports on the first day of a two-day working visit to the Belgian capital. It is his first overseas trip in his capacity as Bulgarian head of State after he won the presidential elections late last year.
"Bulgaria has its very important issues and the first of them is security, the migrant crisis. When you don't have security, you don't have investment and economic development," said the Bulgarian President.
He said that he raised the issue of border security in all its aspects. "We have [Brussels'] full understanding of the issues facing us. We expect even bigger help," said Radev. He went on to say that EU solidarity means that everybody participates in the efforts to protect the external border."
Radev said Bulgaria needs to be sure that its border is well protected and more effort is needed for this. "Look at our police and their equipment and then look at the Frontex people: there is a huge difference," he said adding that the conditions must be made equal.
Radev said that Tusk expects more detailed information about Bulgaria's needs in this department.
The President called for a revision of the Dublin Agreement which threatens to turn the countries in the EU periphery into a buffer zone for the migrants entering the EU.
Radev said that Bulgaria is supportive of the preparation of a common plan which can be activated in the event of a dramatic increase of migratiton pressure on Bulgaria.
Radev and Tusk also discussed the EU's Cohesion Policy. The Bulgarian President said it should continue after 2020 as an important factor in economic growth and job creation, especially for young people. He said his country expected the Juncker Plan to be geographically and sectorally specific and to be implemented so as to give countries like Bulgaria a chance for fuller participation in the proposed economic growth measures.
Discussing Bulgaria's Presidency of the EU Council, Tusk praised the appointment of a deputy prime minister in charge of the preparations in the caretaker cabinet.
Radev and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker discussed important questions concerning unity and security in the Union, to use Radev's words. The Bulgarian President thanked for everything that the EC has done for Bulgaria.
Border security was also discussed. Radev said he was assured that the Commission will continue to support Bulgaria in the areas of discussion: security, the migrant crisis and economic development.
Asked if the nomination of a Bulgarian EU commissioner was on the agenda of the meeting, Radev said that it would not be good to have a commissioner named by the caretaker government amid a hotly contested election campaign, and that the next cabinet should take care of the nomination.
Juncker said that he has "total understanding" for the fact that Bulgaria wants to propose a commissioner after the general elections. "I agree it should be done in May," he said adding that he did not discuss with Radev names or portfolios. "I indicated to the President that I would like a Bulgarian lady to be the next commissioner. We have enough guys," he added.
The Bulgarian seat on the European Commission has been vacant since the start of 2017 when Kristalina Georgieva left it for a job with the World Bank.
Juncker also said that he and Radev discussed relations between the EU and Russia "in a not too intense way". Regarding the Russia sanctions, he said: "We have taken our decisions. Our decision is valid and when we have to come back to this decision we will do so, but this is not the time for change".
On his first day here Radev is also scheduled to meet with European Parliament President Antonio Tajani.
On Tuesday he will confer with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. He will also visit the Bulgarian offices in the Alliance headquarters and meet the Bulgarian officials there. Furthermore, he is scheduled to visit the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons.
On Radev's delegation are two caretaker Deputy Prime Minister: Stefan Yanev who is in charge of internal order and security, and of defence, and Denitsa Zlateva, who is responsible for the preparation of the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU in 2016. Caretaker Foreign Minister Radi Naydenov is also with them.
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