Minister Genchovska reaffirmed Bulgaria’s support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans and the EU candidate status of Ukraine
26 April 2022 News.jpeg)
Foreign Minister Teodora Genchovska reaffirmed Bulgaria’s support for the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries and for the granting of EU candidate status to Ukraine. She took part in the forum “EU Meets the Balkans” held in Sofia. The lesson from Ukraine: European enlargement – protection from war.”
The forum was organised by the European party Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), the European Liberal Forum and the Atlantic Club. Among the participants in the event were also the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, the European Commissioner for Enlargement Oliver Várhelyi, the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olga Stefanishyna, as well as the Foreign Ministers of North Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Teodora Genchovska reaffirmed Bulgaria’s support for the European perspective of all six countries in the Western Balkans, describing it as “the most powerful engine of transition to democratic governance and market economy in the region”.
At the same time, Minister Genchovska stressed that our support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans is firm, but not unconditional. Bulgaria expects that apart from the geopolitical orientation, it will be key for the candidate countries to adhere to basic European values such as good-neighbourliness. According to Minister Gençovska, there is no doubt that the Western Balkans would be more stable and prosperous if they were part of the European family of shared values.
Bulgaria also encourages the systematic strengthening of the cooperation with the Western Balkans on key issues regarding security. Minister Genchovska pointed out that over the years Bulgaria has consistently supported Ukraine’s European perspective. The minister recalled that on 19 February 2022, five days before the war began, the two countries signed a joint declaration in support of Ukraine’s European perspective.
The minister pointed out that Bulgaria was among the member states that supported the rapid granting of EU candidate country status to Ukraine in view of the current unprecedented situation in which the Ukrainian people firmly defend the European values. She added that Bulgaria provides daily support to Ukrainian families fleeing the war who have found shelter in our country.
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