site.btaPresident Plevneliev: We Need Working Government to Finish Preparations for Bulgaria's 2018 EU Presidency

President Plevneliev: We Need Working Government to Finish Preparations for Bulgaria's 2018 EU Presidency

Sofia, December 17 (BTA) - The Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev on Saturday urged the political parties in the 43rd National Assembly to make every effort to form a pro-European government which will finish the preparations for the upcoming Bulgarian EU Presidency in 2018.

Plevneliev attended a ceremony where President-elect Rumen Radev was named Politician of the Year 2016 by Darik Radio.

Plevneliev warned that Bulgaria has only six months before it gets involved in the activities of the Presidency Trio together with Estonia and Austria and risks failing its presidency if it is plunged in long-lasting instability.

"I am concerned that rushed elections will lead to further instability and a more fragmented legislature, which will be unable to work. For us, the Presidency is key, and two thirds of it involve the preparations, which should conclude by June 2017," said Plevneliev.

According to the head of state, today Bulgaria is faced with the choice whether to continue the political squabbles or carry out a EU presidency which will have a leading role in Brexit negotiations, the agreement of the new budget frame for the EU funds after 2020 and a role in implementing the EU agenda in the Balkans and the inception of the European Energy Union.

As priorities of a future government within the current legislature, Plevneliev noted the organization of the next general elections respecting the will of the Bulgarian people, expressed at the referendum, the completion of the judicial reform and the security of Bulgarian people in the conditions of heightened migration pressure.

Plevneliev said that a lot has been done in the past two years and the 43rd legislature is not exhausted.

The head of state also said that the current government coalition has been formed through transparent negotiations, based on clear principles and it has made efforts to modernize Bulgaria and reform the judicial system.

The President said that in view of the current political situation, any single party will find it hard to win absolute majority and this will require of parties to work in the future at the formation of government coalitions.