NEWS

Presidents Plevneliev and Preca: the European Agenda Should Focus on Migration and Security Issues

Migration, protecting the EU's external borders and security issues should be among the top priorities on the bloc's agenda in 2017 and 2018 when Malta and Bulgaria will take over the Presidency EU Council. The two countries will coordinate realistic and feasible priorities that would lead to tangible results for the European citizens. This is what Head of State Rosen Plevneliev and President of Malta Marie Louise Coleiro Preca agreed on in Valletta, within the Bulgarian President’s state visit in the insular country.

Rosen Plevneliev and Marie Louise Coleiro Preca exchanged views on topical issues on the European and international agenda, on the interaction within the EU and on the deepening bilateral relations in a lot of spheres.

The crises in Europe have a single solution - a pan-European one, President Plevneliev said at a joint news conference with Coleiro Preca in Valletta. "We should put the problems on the table because among the plethora of crises in Europe, the moral crisis is the worst one. We should remember who we are and what our values are and Malta is a natural leader in this respect," the Head of State said, and reiterated his call for a new phase in European integration. "This is the only solution that would make strong not only the European nation states - regardless of whether they are small or big, wealthy or poor, but also the EU," the President emphasized.

The President of Malta Marie Louise Coleiro Preca briefed her Bulgarian counterpart on the top priorities of the upcoming Maltese EU Presidency in the second half of 2017. In addition to migration and security, Malta will also focus on the creation of a single digital market and on the energy sector.

As for the migration crisis, President Coleiro Preca emphasized  that the EU should work more actively with the origin and transit countries for Northern Africa and Middle East migrants. The two presidents were unanimous  that all EU member states should show solidarity in facing the challenges posed by the migration pressure.

There is strong potential for the further development of bilateral trade, economic and investment relations and of education and cultural exchange, it also emerged at the official talks of the two presidents.

"We will listen very carefully to  how our British friends see the solution after the referendum conducted  in the UK. However, we should not focus on the technicalities involved in achieving results but on the results themselves. We will seek the best possible solution in order to remain friends with the UK,” President Rosen Plevneliev said in response to a journalist’s question. The negotiation process of Brexit is expected to coincide with the Maltese and Bulgarian presidency of the Council of Europe.

In Valletta, President Rosen Plevneliev will hold talks with the Speaker of the House of Representatives  of Malta Angelo Farugia  and the Prime Minister of the country Joseph Muscat. Within his visit, the Head of State will also meet the representatives of the Bulgarian community in Malta.