Daniel Mitov conferred with EU Ambassadors
26 September 2016 News
Minister of Foreign Affairs Daniel Mitov conferred over a working lunch with the EU Ambassadors accredited to Bulgaria. The meeting took place within the framework of the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the EU, and was hosted by the Ambassador of the Slovak Republic H.E. Marian Yakubotsi.
Minister Mitov briefed the European Ambassadors on the current position of Bulgaria on priority foreign policy issues and topics on the EU agenda. The talks focused on the migration crisis and protection of the EU’s external borders, ways of deepening integration within the Union, the energy security in the European context and the Bulgarian participation in interconnector projects. They discussed also the Middle East conflict and the crisis in Syria.
The migration crisis in Europe requires a unified and solidarity response at EU level. The Union needs to start perceiving itself as a whole with external borders, which must be managed and controlled through the joint efforts of all Member States, Minister Mitov said. He emphasized that improving the cooperation with third countries, including Turkey, is a key tool to tackle the crisis, adding that the EU-Turkey readmission agreement should be applied. The Foreign Minister welcomed the forthcoming opening in October in Bulgaria of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, which will contribute to the more effective control of the European borders.
Diversification of routes and sources of energy supply is our priority and an important factor for the energy security of the region and the EU, Daniel Mitov said. He welcomed the building of the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) and the progress on the project with Romania, which are a key component of the future energy map of Europe.
Bulgarian Foreign Minister and the EU Ambassadors exchanged views on EU’s future vision in light of the current challenges and after the British referendum. Bulgaria supports the projects and the efforts that would deepen the integration within the Union, said Minister Mitov, focusing on the need to strengthen EU’s defense capacity, to consolidate the single market, to enhance the exchange of information and to increase investment in the digital sphere. He emphasized that the economic and social cohesion within the EU is a major priority for Bulgaria.
In regard to the crisis in Ukraine, Minister Mitov stressed the need to implement the Minsk agreements. The Foreign Minister talked also about the priorities of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2018, the regional cooperation and the EU enlargement to the Western Balkans, as well as the Common Foreign and Security Policy.