The EU should focus on policies to promote growth and employment
03 June 2014 News
European Union should focus primarily on policies to promote growth and employment, energy policy, justice and home affairs, in particular related to asylum and migration. Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin and his Austrian counterpart Sebastian Kurz agreed on this statement at their yesterday’s meeting in Vienna. The two ministers reviewed the state of bilateral relations and discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest.
As regards the future prioritites of the EU, Minister Vigenin emphasized that the next President of the European Commission should promote the integration and the cohesion of the Union. The Bulgarian Foreign Minister pointed out the significance of the Danube Strategy as an important tool for bringing the Danube region closer to the EU and welcomed the policy of enhanced cooperation between the ports of the Danube and the Black Sea region.
Minister Kristian Vigenin underlined the need for a comprehensive approach regarding refugees. "It is important not only to strengthen the border controls and to support refugee integration, but also a carry out a dedicated policy in support of the countries of origin," he said. Minister Sebastian Kurz reaffirmed Austria’s positive evaluation of the fulfilled technical criteria for the accession of Bulgaria to the Schengen area.
Both sides reiterated their commitment to the European perspective of the Western Balkans and the willingness to support, by sharing their experience, the implementation of the criteria and the inclusion tothe European values. Minister Vigenin underlined the importance of developing good-neighborly relations between the countries of the region.
The two ministers reaffirmed the support of Bulgaria and Austria for the implementation of the South Stream project, which will ensure the security of natural gas supply to Europe.
Minister Vigenin welcomed the upcoming visit of the Austrian President Heinz Fischer to Bulgaria and invited Minister Kurz to visit our country in connection with the celebration of the 135th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Austria.
Today the Bulgarian Foreign Minister will participate in the Annual Meeting of the Central European Initiative Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Western Balkans Conference.