The EU must be pro-active in the changing geostrategic environment
07 March 2015 News
Minister Daniel Mitov participated in an informal Gymnich meeting of EU foreign ministers in Riga on 6-7 March under the Latvian EU Presidency. The meeting focused on the crisis in Ukraine, EU-Russia relations, the complicated situation and efforts to achieve a national consensus in Libya, preparations for the Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga in May, a review of the European Neighbourhood Policy and an update of the European Security Strategy.
The EU-28 top diplomats made an assessment of the Minsk agreements and shared the view that in the short term, the most effective support from the EU for its implementation goes through assistance for the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, which monitors the ceasefire and the withdrawal of weapons from Eastern Ukraine. The foreign ministers discussed the option to support the OSCE mission by enhancing its capacity and size.
In his speech, Minister Daniel Mitov said that Bulgaria will back a new round of sanctions against the Russian Federation if proved that it violates the ceasefire in Eastern Ukraine, a position agreed by all 28 top diplomats.
Along with the efforts to fully implement the Minsk agreements and establish a monitoring the implementation mechanism, the EU must increase its support under the political and economic reforms and the democratization of Ukraine, added the Bulgarian Foreign Minister.
EU should remain absolutely united in its positions and actions on the policy and partnership relations with the Eastern Partnership countries, has been confirmed in the course to the discussions. They are based on the value model and reciprocity commitment in the name of support and assistance with specific and useful tools for independent European choice of partner countries.
The EU foreign ministers reviewed the European Neighbourhood Policy. Minister Daniel Mitov said that Bulgaria supports a more efficient, visible and result-oriented ENP. The balance between the East and the South is important with a return to the resource provision from EU instruments in the East. The EU should pay more attention to the Black Sea Region, he said. According to him, energy security, institutional reforms, migration, mobility and fight against terrorism should be high on the agenda as new aspects of mutual interest between neighbouring countries.
Regarding an update of the European Security Strategy, the EU foreign ministers agreed that the EU should be proactive in the context of the changing geostrategic environment. Bulgaria supports a gradual and pragmatic update of the ESS which should respond promptly and adequately to the changing challenges in cooperation with strategic partners. Of key importance for the EU is the ambition to have sufficient resources and clear prioritization of efforts.
The candidate countries for EU accession joined their colleagues for a discussion on the challenges in neighboring regions.