site.btaGeneral Affairs Council Did Not Take Decisions on Enlargement

General Affairs Council Did Not Take Decisions on Enlargement

Brussels, December 13 (BTA Correspondent Nikolay Zheliyazkov) - This has been one of the most dramatic Council meetings, Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva said emerging from a meeting of the General Affairs Council of the EU.

"We failed to reach an agreement regarding the enlargement of the EU," said Kuneva adding this was largely due to the opinions regarding Turkey readiness and the distinct opposition of Austria.

According to Kuneva, the [EU] door to Turkey should not be closed. In principle, Bulgaria supports enlargement. Turkey's wish to join the Union keeps the process alive, said the Deputy Prime Minister. She noted, however, that the topic of enlargement will not be on the agenda of the upcoming European Council later this week.

She dismissed allegations that Bulgaria is trying to block Serbia in relation to the education chapter of the acquis. "We just want to know what reforms the Serbian government has planned. Then we can give a fast and adequate opinion," she commented. Kuneva added that Bulgaria supports its neighbours on their path to the EU.

Commenting the latest developments in Macedonia, Kuneva said that holding elections was a good step for overcoming the heavy political crisis in that country but should not remain the only one. Kuneva reminded that political commitments and reforms must be implemented, including the pledge Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov made in Sofia for developing good neighbourly relations.

Meanwhile, in a press release the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said that the Bulgarian position about the December 13 meeting of the General Affairs Council was adopted in compliance with the national coordination mechanism regarding European affairs. The position states clearly that the process of accession of the Republic of Turkey to the EU is an important tool of steering and promoting the process of Europeanization of the country and should be kept.

Nothing in the Bulgarian position in respect of the talks on the accession of Turkey to the EU gives grounds to draw conclusions for a possible Bulgarian support in support of freezing the process of negotiations. Bulgaria has always adhered to the position that Turkey's accession talks should take place according to the same procedure and complying with the same criteria as those in respect of the other applicant countries conducting accession negotiations.