At the meeting of the Heads of State of the parliamentary republics in the EU the Bulgarian Head of State called on Europe to address the causes, not only the consequences of migration
“Bulgaria expects that the new mandate of the European institutions will be dedicated to the real economic, social and scientific cohesion. If the EU fails to invest in its social and economic unity, the internal division will continue to threaten the principles and the pillars of the union.” This is what President Rumen Radev said in the statement he made at the 15th meeting of the Heads of State of the EU parliamentary republics, which is held in the capital of Greece, Athens.
President Radev said that the EU cohesion policy remains a priority for Bulgaria, however, its sustainability will increasingly depend on the even distribution of scientific and educational infrastructure in Europe as a factor for national economic growth. For Bulgaria, the success of the Cohesion policy will be proved if young people stop emigrating and choose to find their prospects for development in Bulgaria, Rumen Radev further said. Emphasis was laid on the necessity of overcoming the differences between the East and West and the North and South in Europe.
In the statement he made at the forum, the Bulgarian President emphasized that the summit coincides with dynamic changes in the security environment, in the challenges the economy and climate are facing. In this situation, the primary task of the EU member states is guaranteeing the citizens’ security and the conditions for stability and prosperity.
“Europe is still primarily focused on the consequences not so much on the causes for migration, while the EU is still busy reacting mainly to the changes in the security environment, the other strategic players are changing this environment in their favor, leaving us to deal with the migration flows,” Rumen Radev said.
In the President’s words, Europe needs higher ambitions in the security sphere and a comprehensive approach of situational awareness and predictability, fast decision- making and new flexible mechanisms for implementing them. “The EU needs an operational plan for the protection of its external borders, in particular, the land borders, in case of a new major migratory pressure, which should prevent threats to the citizens’ security or a humanitarian crisis. Two years ago I raised this issue at a meeting of the Council of the EU and currently the situations confirms the necessity of taking such a step,” the Head of State said.
Rumen Radev again called for strengthening the protection of the external EU borders, reforming the Dublin Regulation and the European policy for asylum seeking. These are urgent measures, which directly affect Bulgaria and the other member states located at the external EU borders, but they also affect the ability of the union to act as a unified community.
“Europe needs a more active projection of influence outside the EU’s geographical borders and a greater commitment to the migrants’ countries of origin to strengthen their security and economic growth, their healthcare and education systems,” the Bulgarian Head of State further said. In his words, if this does not happen, Europe will not be able to achieve the desired level of internal security, despite the constantly growing expenditure.
The summit in Athens was attended by the presidents of Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Portugal and Slovenia. In his working visit to the Republic of Greece President Rumen Radev is accompanied by his wife Desislava Radeva.