site.btaVisiting German President Gauck Confers with Parliament Chair Tsacheva, Delivers Lecture with Plevneliev

Visiting German President Gauck Confers with Parliament Chair Tsacheva, Delivers Lecture with Plevneliev

Sofia, June 23 (BTA) - German President Joachim Gauck conferred here on Thursday with Parliament Chair Tsetska Tsacheva. Gauck is on a three-day state visit to Bulgaria which started on Wednesday.

Bulgaria's and Romania's Schengen membership will make Europe more secure and all European citizens calmer, Tsacheva said during the meeting.

Germany appreciates Bulgaria's efforts and results in protecting the EU external border, President Gauck said. According to him, it is very important for Bulgaria that the judicial reform and the fight against corruption continue. He described the constitutional amendments concerning the Judiciary, which were adopted towards the end of last year, as a step forward for Bulgaria and as having been dictated by the Bulgarian citizens' expectations.

Legislative measures in the area of justice reform are among the highlights in Parliament's work, Tsacheva said. The Government sponsored bill concerning countering corruption among high-ranking figures is yet to be discussed, she added.

Tsacheva thanked Germany for the valuable experience shared and the tangible support it has provided in these exceptionally important processes.

Presidents Rosen Plevneliev and Joachim Gauck delivered a lecture at Sofia University about Germany and Bulgaria as partners in the EU, in which they stressed the importance of a united Europe.

According to Gauck, there must be a common vision and idea, because separately, European countries do not have enough weight and can not compete with big nations, such as China. Europe needs a common voice in which it can speak to its partners, he said.

President Plevneliev said during the lecture that every level-headed person in Europe, who has learned the lessons of history, must protect and support the EU. The European project is the best thing created by the progressive human thought following the total shock of WWII, when everyone hated everyone else in Europe, the Bulgarian head of State said. According to him, the EU's mission is to support the rule of law and human rights, so that there is peace in Europe, the Balkans and the world.