Bulgaria and the UK reaffirmed their strong partnership within the EU and NATO
16 June 2015 News
Minister Daniel Mitov held a meeting today with his British counterpart Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond in London. They underscored the strong partnership between the Republic of Bulgaria and the UK within the EU and NATO and the excellent level of the bilateral political dialogue. The top diplomats of the two countries exchanged views and assessments on current issues of European and regional agenda, focusing on the situation in the Republic of Macedonia and the Western Balkans as a whole, as well as on the situation in Ukraine and the framework of EU-Russia relations.
Philip Hammond presented to his Bulgarian counterpart the UK's EU Reform agenda and the planned referendum on whether the United Kingdom should remain a member of the European Union. He emphasized the need for agreement between the EU partners on the reforms aimed at increasing its competitiveness and democratic accountability in the interest of the security and prosperity of all European citizens. Regarding the British debate on reforming the principles of EU citizens' access to the welfare systems of the Member States, Hammond said that the British government is ready to discuss with its EU partners possible solutions which do not discriminate against any category of EU citizens and which could form a basis for a broad consensus among the Member States.
Bulgaria and the UK reaffirmed their shared ambition for active cooperation during the preparations for the UK-Estonia-Bulgaria Trio Presidency of the EU in 2017-2018.
The two foreign ministers adopted a Joint Statement.
Minister Mitov also held meetings in the British Parliament with Lord Boswell of Aynho, Chairman of the European Union Committee in the House of Lords, as well as with the British government's National Security Adviser, Sir Kim Darroch.
Minister Mitov and Lord Boswell discussed the British government's commitment to EU reforms and the role of the House of Lords and its European Union Committee regarding the bill on Britain's EU membership referendum, which is expected to take place by the end of 2017. They shared similar positions on issues of Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) of the EU, with particular emphasis on the situation in Ukraine and the importance of the crisis in the European context. Minister Mitov invited Lord Boswell to visit Bulgaria in order to intensify the bilateral parliamentary cooperation, exchange of best practices regarding the work of the British Committees on European Affairs, and discuss the role of national parliaments in the context of the debate on European reforms.
In a separate session, Mitov and Sir Kim Darroch discussed a wide range of matters pertaining to security in the Western Balkans, the European prospects of the countries in the region and ways to cope with related challenges, including in the wider European security context. The meeting took stock of the current situation in the Republic of Macedonia and the prospects of finding a way out of the political crisis in the country. They exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine and the EU's relations with Russia, sharing many similar views, including with respect to EU sanctions and improving the EU's capacity for effective public communication.
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