The hosting in 2016 of the next meeting of the presidents of the Arraiolos group is a historic achievement by Bulgaria and Bulgarian foreign policy. That is how Head of State Rosen Plevneliev defined the unanimous decision of the eleven EU member-states that Bulgaria is to host the next 2016 meeting.
„We will prepare well. I am extremely content that we have received this high appraisal by our partners. We will send a strong signal to the Balkan countries that Europe is here and that Europe thinks and acts to the interests of the democratic development of the region“, stated President Plevneliev after the end of the meeting in the German city of Erfurt.
It remains for the topics of the next meeting of the Arraiolos group to be coordinated and agreed upon. „Bulgaria will definitely place the topic of South-East Europe as the pivot of its foreign policy. This great recognition for Bulgaria coincides with Bulgarian chairmanship of the South-East European Cooperation Process to continue until mid-2016. Bulgaria is leading and we hope to achieve specific results to the interests of the citizens in the region“, said the Head of State in connection to the forthcoming meeting in Bulgaria of the leaders of Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Latvia, Estonia, Portugal, Finland, Italy and Malta.
With regard to the unprecedented migration pressure on European countries President Rosen Plevneliev underscored the urgent need of a common European approach in the search for solutions. „There is positive energy, a strong will for cooperation and for achieving a common voice. Our clear appeal to governments is to seek suitable solutions. Only in unison can we solve all the problems that we are facing. This is the message of the past few days of the meeting“, added the Head of State.
The leaders of the eleven Arraiolos countries have also exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine, the Middle East, as well as in Greece after the elections. „These are present crises, but we also looked towards the future – where Europe will be an even stronger factor on the international scene, a Europe that will effectively provide solutions and will cater for the youngest, for the children, to receive better education and better work prospects“, concluded the President.