site.btaPresident Plevneliev in Lisbon: Bulgaria and Portugal Are Part of the Efforts for Sustainable Solution of Problems Facing EU

President Plevneliev in Lisbon: Bulgaria and Portugal Are Part of the Efforts for Sustainable Solution of Problems Facing EU

Lisbon/Sofia, November 2 (BTA) - Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev arrived on a state visit to Portugal Monday on the invitation of his Portuguese counterpart Anibal Cavaco Silva. Emerging from a meeting with his host at Belem Palace, Plevneliev said, as quoted by his press office, that Bulgaria and Portugal are part of the efforts for pursuing an ambitious European foreign policy for sustainable solution of the problems related to the migration pressure and the unprecedented number of ongoing crisis.

"In the European Union, Bulgaria and Portugal set the direction for a joint solution of the challenges connected with the migration pressure," said Plevneliev.

The migration pressure on the external EU border dominated the talks of the two Presidents.

The Bulgarian Head of State underscored the need of having a common European policy on migration and asylum, and making sure that clear distinction be made between refugees and economic migrants.

The two state leaders were unanimous that it is imperative to analyze the causes of the refugee wave and use this analysis as a basis for sustainable solutions.

"We agree that the migration situation will continue to aggravate until a political solution is reached for the conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa," said also the Bulgarian President.

President Cavaco Silva said that dialogue needs to be established with the countries which generate migrants, and with the countries receiving them.

Plevneliev added that Portugal and Bulgaria have common positions for solving te problems caused by climate change, which further aggravate the risk of fresh migration waves. "The two countries will be part of the responsible solution for dealing with these problems," he added.

The two presidents stressed the potential for the strengthening of bilateral trade and economic cooperation. They noted that Bulgarian and Portuguese entrepreneurs may draft joint projects using their experience on different markets outside the EU - in countries of the region of Southeastern Europe, Brazil, Angola and Latin America. "Portugal is an established partner in these parts of the world and Bulgarian entrepreneurs may use this platform to develop their ambitions," President Plevneliev said adding that the two countries will be stronger through joint projects.

The Bulgarian head of State noted that the Bulgarian-Portuguese Business Forum, unveiled by the two countries' presidents in Sofia in June, has already yielded positive results. At the Business Forum, Portuguese companies showed interest in the Bulgarian car making sector, mechanical engineering and infrastructure and food production. "We can cooperate in the field of information and communication technologies and connect the two countries' innovative ecosystems," Plevneliev noted. Pharmacy and health sciences were also outlined as potential spheres of partnership.

Plevneliev noted that in 2014 a record-high number of Bulgarian tourists visited Portugal and voiced hope that the Portuguese nationals will also recognize Bulgaria as an attractive tourist destination.

He pointed Portugal as a good example for modernization and efficient and transparent management of EU funds.

The Bulgarian head of State thanked for Portugal's consistent support for Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen Area. He praised the readiness of the Portuguese side to share its experience in the preparation for taking up the rotating EU Presidency.

Plevneliev thanked President Silva for his personal commitment for the country's accession to the Arayolush Group, which he defined as an established working format for exchange of opinions and forming of positions on issues, important for Europe.

On the first day of his official visit to Lisbon, Plevneliev also conferred with Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho and Parliament President Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues. The key reforms undertaken by Bulgaria and issues of the EU agenda featured on the agenda of their talks.