NEWS

Only together Can the Balkan Countries be Successful in the Process of European Integration and Cope with the Migration Pressure

Only together can the Eastern European countries achieve success and solve the issues related to strengthening regional partnership, the process of European integration and cope with the increased migration pressure. This is what President Rosen Plevneliev said at a joint news conference with his Albanian counterpart President Bujar Nishani. The President of the Republic of Albania is on an official visit to our country at the invitation of the Bulgarian Head of State.

Rosen Plevneliev was adamant that the not good connectivity in the Balkans is a major hindrance to the economic development of the region and to attracting more foreign investments. Bulgaria and Albania remain committed to the construction of Transport Corridor No. 8 and the completion of the construction of the Sofia-Skopje-Tirana-Durres railway, the two presidents said. “It is important not only for Bulgaria, but also for Albania that the two countries be connected by a railway and highway, why not even by a direct airline,” President Plevneliev said.

The two presidents were unanimous that the better energy connectivity will increase the security of the energy supplies and will provide the opportunity for diversification of suppliers and ensuring more competitive prices of electricity. “The Southeast European countries should unite and establish their regional natural gas and electricity bourse,” the Bulgarian Head of State called on for once again. In Rosen Plevneliev’s view, connecting the electricity-transmission networks of the Balkan countries will encourage the export of electricity from our country, which is a traditional supplier of electricity for the region.

Establishing good-neighborly relations is of key importance not only to strengthening the regional partnership, but also to the progress of European integration, was the position shared by Rosen Plevneliev and Bujar Nishani.

European integration will not be completed without the Western Balkan countries, President Plevneliev further said and assured that Bulgaria will continue to support Albania in the process of its EU accession. Our country is ready to sign a Cooperation Memorandum in this sphere by the end of 2015. “Albania has set an example in the region of commitment to European values and stances, even ahead of becoming a full-fledged EU member state,” the President highlighted. “Albania highly appreciates Bulgaria’s consistent support for the process of EU integration and is convinced that the country will receive it also for launching the EU accession negotiations,” President Bujar Nishani said. Albania’s Head of State expressed his country’s interest in sharing Bulgaria’s experience in EU funds absorption and particularly in the agriculture and development of services sectors.

The topic of the changed security environment as a result of the conflicts in the Middle East and East Ukraine was also discussed by the two presidents, who confirmed their support for the measures taken by NATO to increase the security in the Black Sea region. We share a common position with President Nishani that the Alliance should further pursue the policy of “open doors.” We are looking forward to Montenegro receiving an official NATO membership invitation soon,” the Bulgarian Head of State further said.

As chair of the Southeast European Cooperation (SEECP), Bulgaria will propose the adoption of a joint declaration on the inviolability of borders in the Balkans and will rely on Albania’s support for the successful implementation of this initiative, the Head of State made it clear. The President also called on for an active cooperation of all countries in the region in implementing the three main priorities of the Bulgarian SEECP chairmanship in the transport, energy and infrastructure sectors; in support of the civil societies in the region; regarding migration and the increased flow of refugees.  

The Western Balkan countries, which strive to become EU members, should become part of the general European debate on illegal migration and part of the solution-seeking process, President Plevneliev called on for. The Head of State highlighted that Bulgaria will continue to responsibly fulfill its commitments as an external EU border and to take all necessary measures to guard the external EU border in compliance with European standards. “The migration situation will continue to deteriorate unless a lasting political solution of the ongoing wars and violence is found, and also of the acute social problems in the Middle East and Africa,” the President was adamant. In his words, a distinction should be drawn between refugees coming from a region where their lives are threatened and economic immigrants and called on the countries from the region to continue to seek not individual, but general solutions of this issue. “Transferring refugees from one half-closed border to another is definitely not a solution. Neither is the practice whereby the refugees are not registered and each government conveniently transports them to the next,” the Bulgaria Head of State was adamant.

Albania is our country’s prospective partner in the spheres of trade and investments in the Western Balkan region, President Plevneliev further highlighted in the statement he made at the news conference. The trade between the two countries reached 80 million euros in 2014 and Rosen Plevneliev and Bujar Nishani confirmed their determination to encourage “all institutions in Bulgaria and Albania to create a favorable business environment.” The two heads of state will open a joint business forum in Sofia tomorrow, at which concrete joint projects are to be discussed. Bulgarian companies have shown interest in participating in launching infrastructure projects in Albania, funded by the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank. The development of the transport infrastructure, the use of renewable energy sources and the forthcoming construction of new electrical power stations also create conditions for successful cooperation, it further emerged from the news conference. “Albania has considerable water resources and the Bulgarian companies can take part in the construction of new water power stations,” Bujar Nishani said.

Both Bulgaria and Albania are striving to be tourist destinations in Southeast Europe and create conditions for attracting more tourists in the region. Approximately 14,000 Bulgarians visited Albania only in 2014 – which is a seven-fold increase compared to 2013, and 25,000 Albanians visited Bulgaria.

The two countries are taking joint measures to promote bilateral trade in the education and culture sectors, it further emerged at the news conference. A Cooperation program in the education, science and culture sectors covering the 2015-2017 period is due to be signed. Annually, Albanian citizens of Bulgarian origin study at Bulgarian universities and are entitled to scholarships. A street built with Bulgarian support, in the Albanian town of Balsh, will soon be named after King Boris I.

In reply to a journalist’s question concerning the ethnic Bulgarians living in Albania, President Nishani emphasized that Albania is absolutely open and interested in respecting the right of any minority living on its territory. “The issue of identifying a national minority is based on international conventions and Albania is open to implement these conventions and European standards. In Albania every single citizen has the right to declare their national identity. Currently, if these minorities meet the European standards and comply with the European conventions, they will naturally be officially recognized,” President Bujar Nishani said.