NEWS

The Presidents from Arraiolos: The EU Badly Needs a Long-term and Coordinated Decision-making process on the Crises

The uncontrolled crossing of the European borders is unacceptable, the Presidents from the EU parliamentary republics were unanimous

The plethora of crises creates a need for a long-term and coordinated decision-making process in the EU. Currently is it more important than ever before for us to show cooperation, because Europe should not experience a crisis of values and solidarity. All of us would like to have a functioning EU and everyone should contribute to restoring the trust in the European institutions. This is what Head of State Rosen Plevneliev said at a joint news conference with the leaders of the EU countries from the Arraiolos group. The Bulgarian President, who summarized the informal discussions, hosted the annual meeting of the Arraiolos group, which is attended by the presidents of the EU parliamentary republics.

The leaders of Bulgaria, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Hungary, Germany and Finland called for adopting a unified communal approach to overcoming the current crises caused by the migration wave, the Brexit referendum, the European citizens’ low trust in the institutions and a lot more. “We will stand side by side when resolving the crises. Everyone must contribute to overcoming the challenges we are facing. We agree that currently cooperation is not a matter of choice, but of necessity,” the Bulgarian President said.  

“We had an honest and open debate on the problems and crises we are facing and we raised the question about which crisis can we find a sustainable solution to.  It is an illusion to think that the national states can cope on their own. The only workable solution is the pan-European one. We said “yes” to the EU, we believe in its potential. We would like to have a functioning Europe. The problems should be pinpointed not swept away and left for the next generations to solve,” Rosen Plevneliev emphasized.

The Arraiolos leaders were unanimous that there is no prompt and easy solution to the problems related to the migratory pressure on Europe. “We agree that the Europeans’ security is a top priority today. We will strengthen the control over the external EU borders. The uncontrolled crossing of the EU borders is unacceptable and the agreement between the EU and Turkey, no matter how fragile it is, is workable,” the Head of State summarized. The President highlighted the common will to take coordinated actions to improve the conditions of life in the countries from the regions of crisis, and also to pool efforts to end the conflicts.

“All of us together should make decisions by broad consensus. Consensus means strength and everyone should contribute to finding a common solution,” President Rosen Plevneliev was adamant.    

The presidents from the Arraiolos group share the opinion that the EU should not be associated only with regulations and restrictions. “The EU is a symbol of freedom and open borders. The EU should not be overcentralized, but should become comprehensible and address the people’s problems,” the Bulgarian President added.

The situation in Southeast Europe and the progress of the Euro-integration process in the Western Balkan countries was the major focus at the talks between the Heads of State of the Arraiolos group. The leaders highlighted the progress made in the historical transformation of the countries from the region where an “unprecedented level of cooperation is observed.”

“The processes of integration and development in the Balkans should be encouraged. The Southeast Europe Cooperation Process, which marked its 20th anniversary when Bulgaria hosted the meeting in 2016, and also a lot more regional initiatives, are successfully functioning,” President Rosen Plevneliev said.

“However, there is a lot more work to be done. The European projects will not be completed unless the Western Balkan countries are fully integrated. The importance of the Western Balkan countries’ full EU integration is recognized by all – it is critically important and the migration crisis proves it. The wounds have not healed yet and we would like the reconciliation in the Balkans to continue and to be completed,” Rosen Plevneliev said.

The presidents of the EU parliamentary republics also think that the Brexit referendum sends out a worrying signal to the Western Balkan countries regarding their EU integration. “Therefore the efforts to speed up the EU integration will send out a positive signal. The EU doors are open and the prospects are present,” the Head of State further said.

“We are witnessing difficult and hard times, we should not seek easy solutions, but should seek to find the causes for the problems. Integration is not the problem, but is part of the solutions. Human rights and freedoms, freedom, democracy and integration are the symbol of the European project. We demonstrate that we are together and do not conceal the problems. Our common task is to achieve progress, to show what is good and to pool efforts to ensure the development of the European project for peace, democracy and human rights and freedoms,” President Rosen Plevneliev further summarized after the end of the meeting at the Boyana Residence in Sofia.