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Ekaterina Zaharieva and her German Counterpart Heiko Maas: A Solution for Migration Can Only Be Found at the Level of the EU

02 July 2018 News

Finding a solution on the topic of migration can only be done at the level of the EU – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva and German Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs Heiko Maas stood united on this issue. Minister Zaharieva talked to her colleague in Berlin, where she has been on an official visit.

‘I am glad the leaders of the EU praised the effort Bulgaria invested in the sphere of migration, and supported the need for a solution at EU level,’ Ekaterina Zaharieva said. ‘It would not be operable for each member state to deal with this on its own: the issue stands before all of us. The fact that EU leaders were able to reach unanimity on a very clear plan at the European Council means that, through it all, we are capable of standing united in difficult times. Acting unilaterally benefits the country that adopts such a stance, nor the EU at large.’

Bulgaria’s highest-ranking diplomat reminded that there was no migratory pressure at the country’s border. She noted the points that were key to finding a solution in Bulgaria’s view: closing the EU’s external borders, extending the agreement with Turkey, providing centres outside of Europe, and the quick return of illegal migrants.

‘The topic of migration requires an EU-level solution; solutions at national level are not operable. We are grateful to Bulgaria and to Ekaterina for their efforts to ensure this,’ Minister Heiko Maas highlighted.

The German diplomat congratulated Minister Zaharieva on the success of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

‘All of us are very impressed by what you have achieved. Indeed, your achievements are notable, and they were not easy either. We congratulate you on your success concerning your priorities, especially in the sphere of enlargement following the Sofia summit. Were it not for your efforts, the conclusions of the General Affairs Council regarding the Republic of Albania and the Republic of Macedonia would have been impossible,’ Heiko Maas highlighted.

‘I am grateful for your praise, and for the support you have shown us through this whole process. We made substantial progress on rather divisive files. The EU’s security borders do not coincide with the EU’s external borders, and include the Western Balkans instead,’ Ekaterina Zaharieva said.

A journalist asked Minister Maas about the time Bulgaria would finally be admitted into the Schengen Area, having in mind that it had fulfilled the technical criteria as early as 2011; the Minister stated the following: ‘We support your full-fledged admission into the Schengen Area. We acknowledge all of Bulgaria’s efforts that went towards that, and I clearly stated before my colleague that we support you.’

The two highest-ranking diplomats discussed their excellent bilateral relations. Next year marks 140 years since the start of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

‘German businesses feel comfortable in Bulgaria, and I can assure you that they enjoy the full support of the government,’ Minister Zaharieva said.

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