Bundestag to Mitov: Bulgaria has great potential and we fully support it
29 January 2015 News
On the first day of his official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany, Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov met with Dr. Christoph Heusgen, Director-General, Adviser on Foreign and Security Policy to the Federal Chancellor, with Gunther Krichbaum, Chairman of the European Affairs Committee and with Dr. Norbert Röttgen, Chairman of the Bundestag's Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Bilateral issues were discussed, along with the current situation in Ukraine, energy security, the Middle East, Western Balkans, EU enlargement, EU policy on refugees. Minister Mitov expressed his expectations for active German support, regarding the protection of the Union’s external border and the migration pressure, which remains a serious and alarming problem for Bulgaria.
The hosts expressed full support for Bulgaria’s efforts to carry out a judicial reform, which is the basis of political and economic stability of the country and will contribute to a better investment climate. Gunther Krichbaum offered expert assistance of the Institute of legal and administrative cooperation, for better absorption of EU funds. "Bulgaria has great potential and we fully support it," said Krichbaum.
As regards the crisis in Ukraine, the two countries strongly condemned the escalating violence, resulting in dozens of innocent victims, as well as the ongoing military actions in Eastern Ukraine. Full implementation of the Minsk agreements is the only realistic chance for a political solution and the EU must maintain its unity on sanctions on Russia and on providing support to Ukraine. The increasing role of the OSCE as a neutral intermediary for the de-escalation of the conflict was reaffirmed.
During the meetings the two sides agreed that only united Europe can cope with the new challenges, that there is a positive trend in the economic development of the EU and now the Union is more powerful than a few years ago. Minister Mitov said that due to the fact that Germany has always been a strong and steady partner of Bulgaria, his first official visit as Foreign Minister is precisely to Germany.