site.btaForeign Minister Stoev Discusses with EU Ambassadors Priority Matters on Union's Agenda

June 7 (BTA) - Caretaker Foreign Minister Svetlan Stoev
Monday discussed with the ambassadors of EU Member States to
Bulgaria priority matters on the Union's agenda, including the
post-COVID recovery and the implementation of the Recovery and
Resilience Facility, enviornment and climate issues, migration,
and EU enlargement, the Foreign Ministry said in a press
release.

The meeting was organized by the Portuguese Ambassador to
Bulgaria as a concluding event within the Portuguese EU Council
Presidency, which ends in late June.

Bulgaria has always supported the European perspective of the
Western Balkan countries and, being a country in this region, it
 realizes clearly that the path to the EU is the strongest
factor for the transition to democractic governance, Stoev said
during the meeting. When it comes to the European integration of
 the Republic of North Macedonia, Bulgaria's position is clear,
consistent and predictable and it has not changed, he noted.  
The caretaker government is following the framework position and
 declaration adopted by the 44th National Assembly in October
2019. "Our position also has the support of 85 per cent of
Bulgarian citizens," Stoev added.
    
Bulgaria has always showed a will for constructive and pragmatic
 dialogue with Skopje, the Foreign Minister went on to say.
Sofia will continue working on restoring trust and expects legal
 guarantees for the observation of the 2017 Treaty of
Friendship, Goodneighbourliness and Cooperation and constructive
 dialogue with the Republic of North Macedonia to find a
long-term solution to the bilateral issue, Stoev explained.
   
The Foreign Minister welcomed the introduction of the EU's
Digital Green Certificate and told the ambassadors that the
Bulgarian authorities are already issuing certificates that meet
 the EU requirements.

Talking about the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, Stoev
stressed that the caretaker government gives a high mark to the
Recovery and Resilience Facility and is working actively on
adapting the national plan, the focus being on future-oriented
projects, including such that will aid green transition and
digital transformation.

Minister Stoev thanked the Portuguese Presidency for the
skillful and effective directions amid the COVID-19 pandemic
that made it possible to distribute 10 million accelerated
vaccine doses in the spirit of solidarity.
    
RY/DS




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