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Rumen Radev and Donald Tusk: the EU Should be More Committed to the Political Stability and the Economic Development of Southeastern Europe

The EU should adopt a common overall approach towards Southeast Europe to ease the political tension and to ensure the economic development of the countries in the region. This was the common position shared by President Rumen Radev and the President of the European Council Donald Tusk, who held talks at 2 Dondukov street today. Donald Tusk is on a working visit in Bulgaria at the invitation of the Bulgarian Head of State.

“Europe is not united only by procedures and funds, but also by dignity and a policy of solidarity. Solidarity means “One for all and all for one.” Europe will always be next to you,” Donald Tusk emphasized before representatives of the media after the end of the meeting.  

What transpired from the words of Rumen Radev and Donald Tusk is that the talks were focused mainly on guaranteeing the security in the EU and particularly in the Balkans. “Bulgaria plays and important role in this complicated situation because the security of the European citizens starts with the security of the Bulgarian border,” the president said. In the Head of State’s words, our country has proposed specific measures that should be laid down in a common EU operational plan to protect the Bulgarian external border in case migration pressure increases and also to provide additional financing to increase Bulgaria's border protection.  The topic was discussed at a number of meetings of the European Council and our country had been reassured by Jean Claude Junker, President of the European Commission, and Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, that such support will be provided if needed.   

"We are resolved to close the routes of illegal migration.  We are also committed to the full implementation of the EU-Turkey agreement. The EU is honouring its commitments, just like we expect Turkey to continue keeping its part of the deal ", Donald Tusk pointed out.  He further noted that the EU was well aware that tightened border control in Bulgaria was a significant burden on its national budget. He went on to say that " in the event of difficulties, the EU plans to take additional measures  and provide aid to increase the protection of its external border and is ready to promptly support Bulgaria."

"It is of crucial importance for Bulgaria to develop good-neighbourly relations with Turkey, yet the increasing risk between the EU andTurkey relations creates the highest risk for Bulgaria", President Radev said. The Bulgarian President called on both sides to show their good will to ease the tension. "It is inadmissible that Turkey should interfere in the election process and domestic policy affairs of any EU member state, including Bulgaria.  It is therefore necessary that the EU takes coordinated and common action to protect our independence, security and dignity", Rumen Radev further pointed out.

The Head of State thanked Donald Tusk for his personal commitment to continuing the implementation of the Cohesion policy over the EU's next programming period. "The Cohesion policy has been firmly set among the priorities in the Rome Declaration and it will guarantee the EU a balanced and sustainable development", Rumen Radev noted.

In the president's words, Bulgaria's EU membership provides the strongest guarantee for Bulgaria's economic development and for attaining prosperity and security. "Hence Bulgaria is proactively putting effort into the consolidation of the Union's unity. We have proved to be an island of stability and will continue putting effort into confirming this position here in the Balkans where security risks have rapidly increased lately," Rumen Radev further said.

Ensuring the energy independence of Bulgaria and Southeastern Europe was among the items that topped the agenda of the meeting. According to the Head of State, it is time to once again review the option for Bulgaria to become an energy independent supplier of gas and its transportation to the Western Balkans and to other EU member states in order to avert the risk of transiting gas through areas of conflict or regions of smoldering conflicts. The upcoming talks with Gazprom and the need for a clear, strong and united European position were also discussed.

During the news conference, Donald Tusk reassured that the EU was working towards minimizing the cost of Brexit for all EU citizens regardless of where they came from.Rumen Radev and Donald Tusk: the EU Should be More Committed to the Political Stability and the Economic Development of Southeastern Europe
If Bulgaria faces difficulties, the EU plans to take additional measures  and provide financing to increase protection of its external border and is ready to promptly support Bulgaria