The Diplomat in Spain

Simeon of Bulgaria with the ambassadors of Hungary and Cyprus and the director of the Representation of the European Commission./ Photo: Embajada de Bulgaria

The Diplomat. 29/09/2017

Bulgaria is committed to a united Europe as “the only sustainable solution for the welfare of European citizens and the internal and external security of the Union”, said Simeon of Bulgaria during the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of its accession to the EU.

Just a decade after its accession, Bulgaria will assume the presidency of the Union next January 1st and “will have to find common solutions”, said who was firstly king and then prime minister of Bulgaria, “especially in the face of new challenges, such as terrorism and migration”. Simeon added that Bulgaria could be a “key factor in the EU for dialogue with such important partners as Turkey and Russia”.

In a debate organized by the Bulgarian Embassy and the Representation of the European Commission in Madrid, in addition to Simeon, who was Prime Minister in the period 2001-2005, also participated the General Director for European Affairs of the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Boyko Mirchev; the General Director of Integration of the Spanish Foreign Ministry, José Pascual Marco; and Juergen Foecking, Deputy Director of the EU Representation. Charles Powell, director of the Elcano Royal Institute, acted as moderator.

Boyko Mirchev stressed that “the added value of Bulgaria in the Union is to safeguard the unity that makes the EU strong” and stressed “the great support of Bulgarian citizens to the European project”, which has led to “transformations in society and profound reforms in the economic order, in addition to contributing to greater cohesion and convergence, and thus overcoming the differences between East and West”.

For his part, Juergen Foecking reiterated that the European institutions will continue to support Bulgaria’s efforts to integrate into the Schengen area and the Eurozone. An endorsement that José Pascual Marco assumed in Spain’s name.