The migration pressure causes serious hardship to the European countries and the EU must prove that it is capable of making common decisions and of pursuing a common policy on coping with this problem. This was the position shared by President Rosen Plevneliev and Didier Reynders, deputy prime minister and foreign minister of the Kingdom of Belgium, who held talks at 2 Dondukov street today.  The two were unanimous that solidarity is necessary among the European countries and that the EU must strengthen the control on its external borders.

“In the past years Bulgaria has faced an unprecedented migration pressure. Although our country does not have an enormous economic potential, it nevertheless invested a lot of funds in accommodating and integrating the thousands of people who escaped from the war in Syria and came to Bulgaria,” the Head of State said.

Bulgaria is determined to adopt an adequate legislation which will enable the country to efficiently counteract corruption and organized crime, the Head of State assured. Didier Reynders said that the European partners expect progress in the reforms launched on strengthening the capacity of the law-enforcing institutions in Bulgaria, which will also ensure progress in our country’s Schengen accession.

The opportunities for promoting the bilateral trade relations and increasing the Belgian investments in Bulgaria were also highlighted at the meeting. In 2014 the trade between the two countries reached 1.45 billion euros and Bulgaria’s export marked a growth of 43 percent compared to 2013. The total amount of Belgian investments in Bulgaria for the 2014-2015 period is worth 1039 million euros and in President Plevneliev’s words there is a potential for expanding the cooperation in the energy, transport, food production and tourist sector. Belgian companies also show an interest in investments in the water sector in Bulgaria.

President Plevneliev and Deputy Prime Minister Reynders highlighted the excellent bilateral cooperation in the defense and security sectors. The readiness of the two countries to strengthen the partnership between the special services in fighting terrorism and the illegal trafficking of people was also confirmed at the meeting.

At the meeting President Plevneliev called on for putting the region of Southeastern Europe in the center of the European agenda so as to avoid destabilization of the Balkans. The Head of State reiterated that the prospects for European integration are the only engine of a positive change in Southeastern Europe and it requires a strong commitment on the part of the European countries and institutions.