Daniel Mitov and David Lidington discussed the current challenges facing the EU
17 June 2015 News
Minister Daniel Mitov, who is paying a working visit to London, conferred today with UK Minister of State for Europe David Lidington. They praised the level of bilateral cooperation on the main issues on the European agenda.
The two ministers noted the common positions of Bulgaria and the United Kingdom regarding the key economic challenges facing the EU: improving the competitiveness of Member States' economies, completing the Single Market for services, energy and the digital market, and easing the regulatory and administrative burden on business, especially on small and medium-sized enterprises. These shared priorities provide a good starting point for the pursuit of cooperation between the two countries within the framework of the UK-Estonia-Bulgaria Trio Presidency of the EU Council in 2017-2018.
Daniel Mitov focused on the issues of the European integration of the Western Balkans, discussing in detail the prospects for a way out of the political crisis in the Republic of Macedonia and the key place and role of the EU in this respect.
Minister Mitov stressed the particular importance of developing the energy infrastructure of the countries in the region and encouraging measures to interconnect their gas transmission networks with a view to meeting EU targets for greater energy security in Europe and diversified energy supplies.
David Lidington agreed with the Bulgarian view and reaffirmed Britain's readiness to provide consistent support for infrastructure projects in the region intended to implement the key EU ambition of setting up a common Energy Union.
The sides expressed their shared concern about the foreign fighters phenomenon and underscored the need of even closer cooperation between the competent institutions of the EU partners and NATO allies to successfully counter this significant problem.