Italy: “Your Presidency priorities are our priorities, too”
10 November 2017 News
“The priorities of the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council are our priorities, too. You can count on us in any situation, and you can call me about each of your problems. I appreciate your straightforward approach to each topic and your leader’s role in the European Union.” The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Italian Republic Angelino Alfano said this when he conferred with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva.
The chief Bulgarian diplomat is paying a two-day visit to Rome.
“I also highly value the political views of your Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, which is one of Europe’s strong leaders. We often see each other in European People’s Party formats,” Minister Alfano added, stating that his Government is looking forward to Borissov’s visit to the Italian Republic next week.
“It is far easier whenever there is good and honest communication between ministers and friends. We will be relying on you for the more sensitive dossiers. We share a common position on the European asylum policy. Our two countries, together with Cyprus, Malta and Spain, raised the issue of the migrant crisis back in 2013. We will insist that this issue be addressed back in the countries of origin by creating jobs and educational programmes, so that young people there could be dissuaded from starting on migrant routes at the risk of their life. Now not more than one in four of the migrants who cross our borders are refugees, the rest are illegal economic immigrants. We support the opening of reception centres outside the EU,” Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva said.
In reply, Minister Alfano said that he supports the Bulgarian position on the need of a holistic approach to the migrant crisis, consistent with the EU principles of solidarity and shared responsibility.
After Zaharieva presented the principal foreign policy priority of the Bulgarian Presidency: the integration of the Western Balkans, her Italian counterpart commented: “As holders of the Berlin Process Presidency until the end of this year, we would like to support you in the Western Balkans integration process. We prioritise strengthening the Common Defence Policy and Europe’s social dimension which, I think, is the most adequate response to populists. If we cope with migration and achieve results in the social dimension, we will put out the fire of populism.” For her part, the Bulgarian Foreign Minister said that to have a strong social dimension, the European Union must continue to stress Cohesion Policy, and the new forms of cooperation in the Union in the field of security and defence should not be financed at the expense of Cohesion Policy.
Minister Alfano said that the Italian Republic is Bulgaria’s third largest trading partner, but he would like his country to rank first. For her part, Zaharieva thanked Italy for being a second home to nearly 100,000 Bulgarians who are well integrated into society.
Within the framework of her visit, Zaharieva also conferred with Sandro Gozi, Italy’s Secretary of State for European Affairs. He will represent Italy at the General Affairs Council which the Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister will preside in the first half of 2018.
“We have a solid foundation on which to build our teamwork both during the Presidency and after,” Sandro Gozi said.
“We count on your experience at the General Affairs Council. Our Presidency comes in a crucial period: at the end of the European Commission’s Legislative Cycle, more than 200 dossiers, trialogues, the Brexit negotiations, security and migration issues,” Zaharieva said.
The two discussed their joint work on the European perspective for the Western Balkans, the plans for reforms of the rules for European Parliament elections after 73 UK seats will be vacated, as well as the multiannual financial framework.
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