My responsibility as a Head of State is to continue to seek a dialogue and consensus on finding a solution of the current political crisis in Bulgaria. I am convinced that the situation requires that all institutions and leaders of political parties show the same responsible attitude. This is what President Rosen Plevneliev, who received David Lidington, UK Minister of State for Europe, said today. The Head of State emphasized that after 20 days of unprecedented protests, the best solution would be if the politicians lend a hand to the civil society and hear the messages conveyed.
Rosen Plevneliev was adamant that the parties represented in the 42nd National Assembly must put efforts into and agree on seeking common solutions, which will meet the public expectations for transparency and justice when resolving issues such as the amendment of the Election Code, the reforms in the energy and security sector. David Lidington emphasized the UK’s support for the Presidential Institution’s attitude and active constructive role in the current situation of crisis.
“Bulgaria is interested in this country’s closer integration with its partners in the security sector,” the Head of State said at the meeting and pointed out Great Britain’s contribution to the progress made in the security sector in Bulgaria. Minister Lidington expressed the British support and readiness for sharing the specialists’ expertise in the domestic affairs and security sector.
They voiced the common opinion that Bulgaria and Great Britain share common positions on a lot of issues in the European debate on the future of the energy sector and the efforts to reduce the greenhouse emissions. Rosen Plevneliev pointed out Bulgaria’s determination to continue the modernization of the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant, as well as to realize the potential of the inter-connector link between Bulgaria and Greece for the supply of Caspian gas. “Azerbaijan’s readiness to supply gas for Bulgaria guarantees energy diversification and strengthening the Bulgarian economy’s competitiveness,” Rosen Plevneliev said.
The current labor restrictions for the Bulgarian citizens in Great Britain will be lifted in 2014, in compliance with the legal provisions, David Lidington emphasized during the meeting. He stressed before President Plevneliev that although Great Britain’s social system is undergoing reforms, the changes will not at all establish a regime of discrimination against the individual EU member states. “Bulgaria will insist that its European partners adopt a principled position that will take into account the fact that the Bulgarian citizens do not pose a threat neither to the labor market, nor to the social systems of the European states,” the President said.
The Head of State and Minister Lidington confirmed Bulgaria’s and Great Britain’s support for the process of EU enlargement. They shared the opinion that Croatia’s EU accession and the agreement reached with Serbia and Kosovo are good examples and create favorable conditions for boosting the European prospects of the West Balkans. “We expect that the Republic of Macedonia adopts a constructive attitude and takes concrete actions to ensure the development of good neighborly relations with Bulgaria, which will be a further impetus for the process of European integration,” the Bulgarian Head of State added.