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Ekaterina Zaharieva: The Bulgarian Presidency Has Turned one of its National Priorities into a European one

03 July 2018 News

‘The end of our Presidency is an opportunity to look back and learn from any mistakes we may have made, but also to attempt to maintain the pace and the ambition showed, to make use of the much greater visibility in Europe Bulgaria has accrued because of these past six months.’ These were the words of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva during a conference entitled The Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU – Time to Look Back, which was organised by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Sofia.

Minister Zaharieva pointed out that at the very outset of its Presidency Bulgaria had had to work through a number of challenges and times of crisis, some of which the EU encountered for the first time on its history, as well as the new trans-Atlantic relations between the EU and the USA, which are traditional partners, Brexit, the procedure launched against Poland on the rule of law, the need for a solution to the matter of migration, drafting joint projects in the sphere of security, and the European Defence Facility.

‘Over the course of the Presidency, Bulgaria tabled topics of importance both to Bulgarian and to European citizens,’ Minister Zaharieva stated. ‘Bulgaria was successful in turning one of its national priorities into a European one. At the beginning of the current Commission’s term, President Juncker stated that enlargement was not a priority, yet three years later we have a long-term comprehensive strategy on the countries in the Western Balkans with a clear timeframe and funding priorities. This strategy was welcomed in Sofia, and endorsed by all EU Foreign Affairs Ministers at their first summit together with the leaders of the Western Balkans in 15 years. A clear political and financial commitment was made in a number of fields of activity: those of connectivity, security, youth and digitalisation among others.’

Minister Zaharieva highlighted the fact that it was for the first time since 2015 that a General Affairs Council succeeded in reaching unanimity and agreed on conclusions concerning enlargement that set out clear prospects for the commencement of negotiations with the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Albania; she added that two more negotiation chapters had been opened for Serbia and one – for Montenegro during the Bulgarian Presidency, and that – in spite of difficulties – the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina continued.

Bulgaria’s highest-ranking diplomat also highlighted the role of Bulgaria’s signing the Amity, Good-neighbourliness and Cooperation Agreement with the Republic of Macedonia, which served to foster the positive development of the conciliation process in the region. In her speech, Minister Zaharieva drew attention to migration, and stated firmly that if no EU-level solution was found, migration would continue to be the major point of division in Europe. She pointed out the topics of illegal migration and common solidarity had seen heads of state and government agree during the latest European Council, and that the Bulgarian proposals on this matter – closing external borders and common solidarity as regards their protection, establishing centres outside the EU for those fleeing war inter alia – were duly reflected.

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