Bulgaria supports the decision to grant EU candidate status to Albania
24 June 2014 News
Minister of Foreign Affairs Kristian Vigenin participated in today’s EU General Affairs Council in Luxembourg. Among the main topics on the agenda were the enlargement process and the preparation for the European Council meeting to be held on 26 - 27 June.
At the beginning of the meeting, Minister Vigenin informed the Council on the recent flooding in Bulgaria that caused a number of casualties. He thanked all Member States and institutions, that have expressed their commitment and willingness to provide assistance. The Minister emphasized that any help would be much appreciated when the specific needs in the recovery phase are being identified.
The Council decided to grant EU candidate status to Albania. Minister Kristian Vigenin reaffirmed Bulgaria’s support to Albania and emphasized the clear political signal to the Albanian authorities and its positive impact on the continued efforts to implement reforms and tackle challenges.
During the discussions on the preparation of the European Council of 26-27 June, the Bulgarian Foreign Minister called for a more ambitious policy on migration, asylum and borders, in strict compliance with the principle of solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility. He emphasized that in order to address the problems of migration it is necessary to build a common approach and to provide adequate funding and flexibility for countries, exposed to a disproportionate migratory pressure.
The European Council is due to discuss a number of economic issues, including growth, competitiveness, employment, climate and energy package and others. Today the ministers held the first debate on the EC Communication on the EU Energy Security Strategy, which is closely related to the 2030 climate and energy framework.
According to Minister Vigenin, the sources and routes of natural gas are essential for the European energy security and independence. In this regard, all projects carrying the potential to contribute to the diversification of sources and routes must be considered as contributing to the energy security, including the South Stream project.
Ministers also discussed with the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, the document on the EU strategic agenda for the next five years.