President Rosen Plevneliev received Thierry Repentin, French Minister Delegate for European Affairs, who is on an official visit to Bulgaria on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the emblematic breakfast President Francois Mitterrand had with Bulgarian dissidents, intellectuals and students. “We will never forget how France boosted the Bulgarians’ self-confidence and paved the way to Bulgaria’s democratic development,” Head of State Rosen Plevneliev said during the meeting.
The President highlighted the contribution the French Republic has to the establishment and development of the democratic institutions in Bulgaria and voiced his gratitude for France’s emphasis on the democratic development and improvement of the functioning of the institutions.
“25 years ago it was impossible for anyone to imagine that today Bulgaria and France will be members of the same family,” Minister Repentin said and highly appreciated the progress made by the Bulgarian society towards European integration.
Thierry Repentin told the Head of State that France will not restrict the Bulgarians’ right to free movement. Repentin welcomed the fact that the labor market restrictions for Bulgarian and Romanian citizens were lifted as of 1 January 2014. Everyone is free to settle down wherever they want to and most countries should adopt this approach. Unfortunately, currently xenophobic movements abuse of people’s fears related to the EU citizens’ right to free movement, the French minister commented.
Rosen Plevneliev and Thierry Repentin voiced their concern for the growing xenophobic and populist attitudes in EU member states on the eve of the elections for European Parliament. The Head of State was adamant that if a problem related to the so called social tourism happens to arise, our country will adopt a responsible approach. “There are educated Bulgarians throughout the world who actively contribute to the economic development of the country they settle down in,” The President further said.
Rosen Plevneliev and Thierry Repentin also discussed the European integration of the countries in the region. The President was adamant that Bulgaria supports the European road of the Western Balkan countries. As for Macedonia the President added that signing an agreement on good-neighborly relations between the two countries remains a priority.
The Head of State reiterated his invitation to French President Fracois Hollande to visit Bulgaria.