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Kristian Vigenin: The development of economic relations between Bulgaria and the UK is one of our priorities

02 July 2013 News

Co-operation between Bulgaria and the UK in the EU and the possibilities for strengthening economic relations between the two countries were discussed at a meeting todaybetween the Foreign Minister of Bulgaria, Kristian Vigenin, and the Minister for European Affairs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, David Lidington.

“The development of economic relations between Bulgaria and the UK, including attracting British investment and the expansion of the activities of British companies that already have set up in Bulgaria, is among our priorities,” Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministersaid.

“Bulgaria and the UK have a close co-operative relationship based on respect and understanding," Minister Lidingtonsaid, highlighting his country’s strong support for the steps taken by the Bulgarian government against corruption and in the fight against organised crime. He said that both countries can learn from each other's experience in the field of economic diplomacy and in actively using their network of embassies to boost trade and investment relations.

The two ministers emphasised that the development of the policy of enlargement and the Eastern Partnership of the EU as key areas of interest to both countries. “The history and geography of Bulgaria makes it an expert on the situation in the Balkans and the Eastern Partnership,” the British Ministersaid. At the meeting, Kristian Vigenin and David Lidington discussed the measures that should be taken within the EU to make Europe more competitive and so that its people get theliving standards, social protection and public services they deserve.

“One of the important issues in our relations with Britain, essential to all of our compatriots, has to do with the termination at the end of 2013of the seven-year period of restrictions on Bulgarian citizens working in other EU Member States,” Minister Vigeninsaid. “All Bulgarian citizens who come legally to work and study in the UK, pay taxes and contribute to society, are welcome and will be welcome,” the Minister for European Affairs of the United Kingdomunderlined. He gave an assurance that any reforms undertaken by the UK would be applied on an absolutely non-discriminatory basis to all EU citizens.

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