Declaration of the MFA on the Occasion of the Presentation of the Enlargement Package of the European Commission
17 April 2018 News
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria welcomes the timely publication of the Enlargement Package of the European Commission and the progress report of each state. These documents are of extreme importance to the successful attainment of the aims of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union as regards the Western Balkans, namely making specific steps forward on their way to European integration.
We are especially pleased with the recommendation on the part of the EC to open accession negotiations with the Republic of Macedonia and with Albania. Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria and its diplomatic service have worked to see this happen over the past months.
We would like to express our general support for the conclusions and the recommendations of the EC. The main principles of the enlargement policy have been confirmed: the principle of own merit, and the focus on the rule of law, and on good management of the economy.
We are pleased with the significance attributed to relations of good neighbourliness and the great appreciation for the Treaty of Amity between Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia.
On the basis of these reports, Bulgaria is going to propose a draft for Conclusions of the Council to restate the importance of the enlargement policy of the EU as a key instrument to achieving peace, stability, security, prosperity and in-depth transformation of the societies of accession candidates and potential accession candidates. The Conclusions are to be adopted in June during the General Affairs Council.
Prior to the Council, EU leaders are going to discuss how to assist the Western Balkans in stepping up reform and enhancing their ties to the EU with specific additional initiatives on: fostering the rule of law, security and migration, social and economic development, transport and energy connectivity, the digital agenda and the removal of roaming charges as well as good neighbourliness.