NEWS

Rosen Plevneliev: The Western Balkan Countries Should Receive an Impetus for Their EU Integrationrn

Bulgaria remains in the group of the most pro-European countries in Europe. This was also the result of the active civil society, President Rosen Plevneliev said at a meeting he held in Munich with Beate Merk, Bavarian Minister of European Affairs and International Relations. The two held talks within the 51st Munich Security Conference.

Plevneliev said that despite the unstable political situation in Bulgaria in the past two years, the country has “a golden chance” to implement the long delayed important reforms - in the judiciary, the state administration, the security sector,
healthcare and eduction. The Head of State voiced his gratitude for the expert support provided by the Free State of Bavaria to Bulgaria, particularly in the justice and domestic affairs sector. In this respect Rosen Plevneliev reiterated that our country completely meets the criteria for joining the Schengen border-free zone and that, despite the initial difficulties, it successfully coped with the challenges provoked by the heightened migration pressure on the external EU borders.

At the meeting Rosen Plevneliev and Beate Merk exchanged views about the security environment in the region in the context of the crisis in Eastern Ukraine. The two were unanimous that Europe must stay united and be strong at a time when there is withdrawal from the principles of democracy and the rule of law. In the Head of State’s words, the events unfolding in Ukraine and the Middle
East make Bulgaria's role in Southeast Europe ever more important. “Bulgaria is a responsible EU member state and could set an example to the countries in the Western Balkans which must be given a boost along the path to European
integration. We should strengthen the ties among our countries, in order to avoid the risk of isolation and division,” President Rosen Plevneliev was adamant.

On the second day of the Munich Security Conference, at about 16.30 Bulgarian time, the Head of State will make a statement within the presidential debate at the forum “The Conflict in Ukraine and Security in Europe.” Within the conference in Munich President Rosen Plevneliev will also hold talks with US Vice President Joseph Biden.