Kristian Vigenin met with the Ambassadors of the EU Member States
10 December 2013 News
Minister of Foreign Affairs Kristian Vigenin met today with the EU Member States Ambassadors within the framework of a working lunch. He presented the latest developments and positions on the foreign policy priority issues for Bulgaria and on the EU agenda. Among the main topics of discussion were the prospects and the challenges for the partners from the Eastern Partnership, the state of the EU enlargement process and the progress of the candidate countries in the Western Balkans, aspects of the energy security in the European context and the Bulgarian interests in the dossier. The processes in the Middle East, the dialogue with Iran, as well as the Syrian crisis and its impact in the regional security environment were analyzed.
The EU should continue to be strong and consistent in its policy towards the Eastern partners and to increase the incentives and the dialogue for accelerating the process of social and political transformation in these countries and making the European choice natural and irreversible, said Minister Vigenin. We should strive for signing the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with Ukraine, as well as to speed up the preparations for signing with the Republic of Moldova and Georgia.
Bulgaria is traditional and true supporter of the enlargement to the Western Balkans. The membership requirements and the principle of developing good-neighborly relations should be more actively applied to the candidate countries for EU accession, said Minister Vigenin.
The diversification of routes and sources of energy supply are important aspects of the energy security of Bulgaria and the EU, said Kristian Vigenin. Our country steers a transparent course and is firmly committed to complying with the requirements of the EU legislation in this area, he added. Bulgaria and the EU have an interest and aim at deepening the energy dialogue with Russia in order to ensure compliance with the EU legislation in the field of energy policy, said the Minister.
In response to questions from the Ambassadors, the Bulgarian Foreign Minister focused on the bilateral relations with the United States in the light of the transatlantic relations, the priorities of the Bulgarian Chairmanship-in-office of BSEC in 2014, the regional cooperation, the expectations in relation to the Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification, as well as issues regarding the refugees and the migrants in Bulgaria. The Minister analyzed the internal political situation in the country and noted the importance of the European Parliament elections next year.