site.btaPresident Plevneliev: Bulgaria's Entry in Schengen, ERM II Are Objectives until 2018

President Plevneliev: Bulgaria's Entry in Schengen, ERM II Are Objectives  until 2018

Sofia, July 24 (BTA) - President Rosen Plevneliev participated in the second day of the annual meeting of Bulgarian ambassadors at the Boyana Residence on Friday.

Plevneliev singled out four key objectives until the second half of 2018 when Bulgaria assumes the rotating EU Presidency: entry in Schengen, starting with elimination of the air and sea borders as soon as possible; joining the Single Supervisory Mechanism of the European Banking Union; joining the Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM II); and responsible and successful EU Presidency demonstrating a modern, democratic Bulgaria. "Of course, we will also want the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism to be dropped. I believe the agreement reached on amendments to the Constitution will be appreciated," the President said.

Plevneliev also stated: "We had a difficult two years in 2013 and 2014 when we had five governments, two extraordinary parliamentary elections and three parliaments. I would say that we have learned a lesson and now we have a government which ensures stability through transparency, dialogue in Parliament and clear priorities, which is noted by our foreign partners."

"We went through some difficult times just like the whole world," said Plevneliev. He said Bulgaria's good reputation was improving further. Bulgaria is a major factor in the Balkans, and no strategic or even tactical decision can be made without it.

Plevneliev said some of the main problems are the crisis in EU-Russia relations, the Ukrainian and Greek crises, the unprecedented immigration wave, and the populism which is rife in Europe. The referendum on whether Britain should stay in the EU is also a difficult matter, he said.

The judicial reform is the mother of all reforms, Plevneliev stressed. Amending the Constitution is an act of national responsibility and democracy and proof that diversity adds value to democracy. "We were afraid that a parliament with eight groups and 47 parties in them can grind to a halt, but you can see that our democracy is working and going forward," said Plevneliev. He thanked the Prime Minister and the government for making this act of national agreement happen.