Minister Zaharieva: The Bulgarian Presidency Will Be Remembered for the Words Future, Chance and Prosperity for the Balkans
18 June 2018 News
‘I am convinced that our presidency will be remembered for the words future, chance and prosperity for the Balkans. We, the EU, have achieved this because we have stuck together.’ Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva stated this at a plenary of the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs (COSAC) held in Sofia.
Bulgaria’s highest-ranking diplomat congratulated her Macedonian counterpart, Nikola Dimitrov, who took part in the forum with her, on the agreement signed between his country and the Republic of Greece the day before. ‘I would like to congratulate you and Nicos personally, and your respective Prime Ministers, too, for the bravery you have shown in signing this agreement. It is time we had peace, friendship and prosperity,’ Minister Zaharieva stated. According to her, the Amity, Good-neighbourliness and Cooperation Agreement between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia has offered an impetus for this process in the region, and the positive results can now be seen.
‘We have invested in friendly relations with Greece, and in a future built on understanding and mutual respect. In a sense, we owe this to the support of our Bulgarian friends, to the contacts and guidance of Prime Minister Borissov and Minister Zaharieva,’ Nikola Dimitrov stated for his part.
‘Our efforts have focused precisely on giving a start to the process of integration,’ Minister Zaharieva highlighted in her statement.
She noted that currently the EU is the biggest trading partner and the biggest source of foreign investment for the Western Balkans. ‘Over 76% of the total trade of the region is with the EU, and over 75% of investments in the Western Balkans come from the EU,’ she explained. Drawing a comparison, Minister Zaharieva noted that China, Russia and Turkey account for 5.7%, 4.8% and 4.3% respectively of the total trade of the Western Balkans countries. According to her, more effort is required as regards connectivity. ‘This is why the first summit in 15 years was devoted to this topic. Connectivity not only in the physical sense, but also connectivity between businesses, young people, scholars, in the sphere of security, and cooperation in combatting corruption,’ Bulgaria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs highlighted. Ekaterina Zaharieva reminded everyone that all Member States have made specific commitments. She was adamant that Bulgaria can be proud of having managed to put the European prospects of the Western Balkans high on the EU agenda.
Minister Zaharieva stated that the following week would be extremely important for the future of the region. ‘On 26th of June, there will be a General Affairs Council. We hope to reach a decision allowing for the commencement of accession negotiations with our friends from Skopje and Tirana,’ Bulgaria’s highest-ranking diplomat stated. She added that in view of the upcoming European elections, and in light of the new Parliament and the new Commission on the horizon, the next real window of opportunity for the countries in the region would be at the same time but in 2020.
Ekaterina Zaharieva called on the members of national assemblies in Member States to support the integration process and to move beyond fear. ‘A start does not mean that negotiating will stop. You will have new support and assistance mechanisms in the future,’ she said.
Minister Zaharieva reminded that two new chapters would be opened for Serbia, and one for Montenegro. Bosnia and Herzegovina was able to hand in its questionnaire to the EC, and it also signed its demarcation agreement with Montenegro. ‘Here, in the Balkans, we have shown that we do not need pressure from others to solve our problems. I am convinced that the momentum we have will be carried over in the Austrian Presidency, and in the Romanian and Croatian ones,’ Minister Zaharieva stated firmly. She noted that Croatia has already committed to organising the next Western Balkans Summit in 2020.
‘I would like to thank everyone for the support for a priority of the Bulgarian Presidency that is of importance to each European. I am grateful to the National Assembly of Bulgaria, to the chair of the European Affairs and Control of the Spending of EU Funds Committee, Kristian Vigenin, and his deputies. They supported our government, and in spite of their various political commitments, they have always been ready to help,’ Ekaterina Zaharieva concluded.
More photos
