site.btaMEPs, MPs and Experts Discuss Future of EU and Ukraine in Sofia

The future of the European Union and Ukraine was discussed on Friday by MEPs, MPs and experts during a panel of the discussion "Europe on the Global Scene: Geopolitics and Security" at the European Parliament Liaison Office in Bulgaria (EPLOB) in Sofia. The participants discuss the paths of Europe and Bulgaria in the new geopolitical situation, with a focus on foreign relations and defence, EPLOB said.

MEP Andrey Kovatchev: Perhaps EU's next step should be in this direction - together with the European elections to hold elections for a directly elected EU president. At the moment the EU is very neglected, even humiliated by many other geopolitical players. When there are strong presidents - the US, China, Russia and others - they make decisions much more efficiently and quickly.

MEP Ilhan Kyuchyuk: The EU cannot become a geopolitical player before it has resolved its own political issues. This has a lot to do with the European architecture and the way decisions are made. If the Union takes decisions in this very complex way, which in many cases requires an absolute majority, then the valid EU rule of 'too little, too late' will continue to exist. This is the first thing, the second is who represents the EU. Recently, the idea has been put forward that there should be a special high representative or someone with a similar status to represent the EU at the next meeting in which the fate of Ukraine will be decided. 

Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Policy Chair Yordanka Fandakova: We have supported Ukraine from day one and we believe that support should continue. The big challenge is the speculation and fear-mongering in Bulgarian society by many vocal political forces and a counteraction is needed. In changing and adapting Europe, we must be careful not to violate fundamental European values, because Europe's strength lies in these values.

Parliamentary Committee on European Affairs and Control of European Funds Chair Dimitar Gardev: Bulgaria should definitely take part in the peace process in Ukraine - both as a European country and because we have a huge Bulgarian minority there. The EU can guarantee Ukraine's security by accepting it as a Member State. Our geopolitical development is determined by the fact that the EU is the only union that everyone wants to join, it has not spread by force. It needs to be transformed into a single union with a clear plan, with the possibility of concentrating all Member States in one direction.