Thank you for the support and the message you passed to European citizens that the EU can deliver, said Federica Mogherini after a meeting with the Bulgarian Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov thanked the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini for the immense efforts she put into the signing of the agreement between the EU and Afghanistan.

“After the, a bit sharp and put as an ultimatum, statements about the withdrawal of the contingents from Afghanistan, when something good, fast and effective is done, it is appropriate to say ‘thank you’. At the moment it is fashionable to talk against the European Union, but there is no better thing in the world. With common efforts we can provide assistance to Afghanistan and at the same time help implement the readmission agreement as fast as possible,” said Borissov after a meeting with Mogherini in Brussels.

“We have worked together indeed, as the Prime Minister said. It is a pleasure for whoever serves the European institutions to see that member states recognize the work that European institutions manage to achieve. This is the strength of the European Union, there are some things that we can do only together at 28, through our European institutions, through a true European effort. Among these things are also international agreements, like the one we have signed with Afghanistan for the readmission and return of migrants but also the support we are providing for Afghanistan in terms of development and social-economic opportunities for the country,” said Federica Mogherini. According to her, no EU country, small or big, can mobilize the humanitarian, development aid and security efforts that the EU can mobilize and this has weight in international relations. She pointed out that this power is in service of the European citizens, as well as in service of EU partners.

“Thank you very much for the support and especially for passing this message to European citizens that the European Union can deliver,” Mogherini addressed Prime Minister Borissov.

Later in front of journalists in Brussels, the Prime Minister confirmed that the Bulgarian contingent in Afghanistan will remain, given that the readmission agreement has been signed, and expressed his expectation for its rapid ratification and entry into force, so its implementation can start. If such an agreement were absent, there would have been little point in keeping our military forces there, he noted. “I would not have taken the task to explain to Bulgarian citizens why Bulgarian boys and girls, Bulgarian military forces are in Afghanistan, to support the democracy there, why with the money of Bulgarian tax payers we support Afghanistan, and then when it comes to the implementation of readmission and the return of Afghani citizens – this falls under a different category. There won’t be a single Bulgarian citizen that would have understanding for this,” said Borissov. He also commented that if the agreement works, such agreements can be signed with other risk countries.

The Prime Minister defined the launch of the European Border Guard from Bulgaria as an acknowledgement for the efforts of the Bulgarian state for curbing the migrant pressure on Europe. “It is a fact that when we act consistently, with a balanced tone, but persistently and without backing down, the result comes in the end,” said Borissov. According to him, with a common European border guard the results will be much better and there will be much bigger control in all EU countries.

The Prime Minister also announced that the Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Dontchev held today meetings at the European Commission about the European gas hub “Balkan”. “We want a clear position from the European Commission that Europe needs this, that it is the right thing to do, and then we can go negotiate with the suppliers that would deliver the gas, including Russian gas, which we have discussed with President Putin as well. What remains to be done consists of purely expert meetings, the finalization of the text of the letter,” said Borissov.

He wished good luck to Kristalina Georgieva – the sole candidate for the position of the UN Secretary General, nominated by Bulgaria, at today's voting at the UN Security Council. “We have talked with a lot a people, we received a lot of support. I believe in Ms Georgieva and I hope for success,” said Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.