site.btaNetherlands Needs More Proof of Bulgaria's Fitness to Join Schengen

113 POLITICS - NETHERLANDS - BULGARIA - MEETING

Netherlands Needs More Proof
of Bulgaria's Fitness
to Join Schengen


Sofia, June 5 (BTA) - Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok, who is on an official visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva, said to journalists in the Council of Ministers that in order to support Bulgaria to enter the Schengen area, the Netherlands must be confident that it is strictly protecting the EU border and fighting corruption and human trafficking.

Blok said he is impressed by Bulgaria's progress when it comes to border security, but that there is still room for improvement when it comes to corruption and human trafficking.

After the meeting, Zaharieva said that Bulgaria's desire is to accede to Schengen by initially opening air and sea borders. "There is always room for improvement, but we not only guard the EU's external border well but also investigate human trafficking. Just this year there have been 100 investigations into human trafficking," she said.

She expressed hope that the Netherlands would soon decide to support Bulgaria.

This year marks 110 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and the Netherlands. On this occasion, Bulgaria gave 110 roses to the Netherlands, which will be planted there in the autumn, and the Netherlands is giving Bulgaria bulbs of a new variety of tulips called by the old name of Sofia - Serdica, Zaharieva and Block said.

The Netherlands is the largest foreign investor in Bulgaria and two-way trade and tourist flows are increasing each year, the ministers said.

"Today, we discussed how the EC Councils, in which both of us are involved, such as the Foreign Policy Council and the General Affairs Council, can work more efficiently," Zaharieva said. It is unlikely that this year the EU will adopt a budget for the next programming period. There is, however, a shared understanding with the Netherlands that countries needing more catching up should be given more funds for cohesion policy, Zaharieva said.

A number of Dutch companies decided to invest here in 2018. Their investments in Bulgaria total more than 80 million euro, said Blok.

Bilateral trade is growing at an annual rate of 15-16 per cent, but there is still room for increased cooperation, Zaharieva said. In her words, this can be done in the field of innovative production and agriculture. Bulgaria has clean water and soil, and the Netherlands has high technology in agriculture, she added.

Meeting with the guest, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said that accession to the Schengen area and the euro zone are among the key priorities of Bulgaria and having support from the Netherlands is very important. "It will guarantee the full participation of Bulgaria in the joint European efforts to adequately deal with the challenges to the security of the EU external borders," he said.

During the talks the two sides marked the progress Bulgaria has made in reforming its judiciary and fighting organized crime and high-level corruption, which are monitored by the European Commission under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism. "We appreciate the good cooperation with the European Commission on this issue and we expect our European partners to appreciate our accomplishments and our resolve to carry through the processes in an irreversible manner," said Borissov.

He also said that Bulgaria appreciates highly the support of the Netherlands for its bid to join the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, and expects constructive help to start talks the soonest possible.

He said that Bulgaria also expects support for its bid to host the European Labour Authority.

Bilateral cooperation was high on the agenda of the talks between the Bulgarian Prime Minister and the visiting Foreign Minister. Borissov said it is important that the Netherlands remains the leading investor in Bulgaria and that the positive trends in two-way trade be preserved. LY,LN/DT,LN
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