Deputy Minister Zaritsa Dinkova took part in the regular meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council (Development) in Brussels
19 November 2021 News
Today, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Zaritsa Dinkova took part in the regular meeting of the EU's Foreign Affairs / Development Council, which took place in Brussels. The agenda included a discussion on the importance of water resources in EU foreign policy, with a focus on the Central Asian region. Current issues and developments in crisis countries - Afghanistan, Ethiopia and Sudan - and the common European approach were discussed. A meeting of EU development ministers with United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power was also held during the meeting.
Ministers discussed with Samantha Power European and new American priorities in development policy, as well as areas of possible cooperation. The EU and the US are among the largest donors globally in the field of development, making significant contributions to tackling poverty, economic and social inequalities and climate change. This is Samantha Power's first visit to Brussels since her appointment and the first participation of a USAID administrator in an EU Council meeting.
"Bulgaria welcomes the activities of the United States Agency for International Development and the fruitful interaction with the EU. We call for enhanced international cooperation in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuring a successful economic recovery", Deputy Minister Zaritsa Dinkova said during the discussion. "Bulgaria attaches great importance to close EU-US cooperation in the Western Balkans and the Black Sea in areas of common interest, such as human rights, the rule of law, the fight against climate change, promoting inclusive economic development and connectivity", she said.
In her speech, the Deputy Foreign Minister stressed that water is a key resource and value, as well as one of the most important factors for development. Sustainable water management remains a major challenge, and water scarcity often leads to conflicts. Climate change is further hampering water supply in a number of countries around the world, with the Central Asian region particularly affected. The situation is further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic." Bulgaria calls for enhanced cross-border cooperation in the distribution and use of water resources, as well as for sustainability in the exploitation of water as a natural resource", Zaritsa Dinkova said.
EU development ministers also discussed vaccine sharing, reaffirming the importance of the EU's common approach to securing vaccine supplies and facilitating their distribution as the most effective way to tackle the pandemic. The Bulgarian side highlighted the need for workable solutions in the sharing and distribution of vaccines in order to increase the effectiveness of efforts to protect human life. The Deputy Foreign Minister also suggested that the possibility of adopting EU legislation regulating the provision of vaccines under EU vaccine sharing mechanisms be considered.
The Council adopted conclusions on the role of water resources in the EU's External Action.