CEI successfully fulfills its mission – to support the European integration of EU-candidate countries
15 June 2015 News
In its 25-year history the Central European Initiative has been successfully fulfilling its mission – to support the European integration and preparation of EU-candidate countries. The policy towards the CEI is an integral part of the general European and Euro-Atlantic policy of my country and it is closely related to the development of good-neighborly relations and cooperation in the region. This was stated by Minister Daniel Mitov at the Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the CEI Member States, held in Ohrid.
Minister Mitov was clear that the EU-candidate countries are our immediate neighbours, and we have interest in establishing a region of stability, security, and prosperity, where the values, principles, and standards of the EU are guaranteed. Bulgaria’s top diplomat expressed hope that the Republic of Macedonia will continue to work closely with the EU to achieve lasting political stability. “All of us expect to see this country part of the negotiation process as quickly as possible. But in order to make this happen, the Republic of Macedonia should fulfill all necessary criteria, including that of maintaining good-neighborly relations with its neighbours,” he said.
Minister Mitov presented to his counterparts the project of the Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria on the CEI Know-How Exchange Programme, titled “Energy and Security of the Energy Infrastructure in Southeastern Europe”. The project includes research on the harmonization of the legislation regarding energy security of Southeastern Europe, which will be carried out by a group of five experts from Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, and other CEI member states.
The dialogue between the CEI and the regional organizations and other entities in the region should be aimed at avoiding duplication in a number of activities. The basic principle in their activity should not be competition, but rather finding a specific place for each organization that best suits its identity. Bulgaria will continue to support all rational proposals to strengthen the Organization, so that the CEI would be able to maintain in the future its role as a bridge between Central, Eastern, and Southeastern European countries, said in conclusion Minister Daniel Mitov.