The migration crisis, the increased security of the European citizens and the prospects for speeding up EU's economic growth were among the major highlights at the meeting between President Rumen Radev and European Council President Donald Tusk in Brussels. Rumen Radev is on his first working visit abroad since he stepped in office as Head of State. 

 

“We raised the issue of border security in all its aspects. We have Brussels’ full understanding of the problems we are faced with and we expect even greater help,” President Radev told journalists at the end of the meeting. EU solidarity is an important factor given that its external borders are protected with the efforts of all countries, the Head of State was adamant. The President called for a revision of the Dublin Agreement that threatens to transform the countries located along the EU periphery into a buffer zone for the inflowing migrants. 

 

In the Head of State’s opinion, the EU's strength lies in its ability to predict and manage the crises, and not to solve the crises. He pointed out that our country supports the development of a common plan which can be implemented in the event of a dramatic increase of migration pressure on Bulgaria. “We should be sure that our border will be protected well enough. Compare the equipment of our policemen with those of the people from Frontex. There is a great difference and we should make the conditions equal,” Rumen Radev emphasized. Donald Tusk expressed support for the measures taken by the Bulgarian institutions to step up the security measures along the EU’s external borders. He also voiced expectations that Bulgaria will identify the spheres in which the country needs extra help. 

 

As a factor for economic growth and job creation, especially among the young people, Cohesion Policy should be extended beyond the year 2020, the President said. At the meeting Rumen Radev voiced our country’s expectations that the Juncker Plan will be specified in terms of geographic regions and economic sectors and will be implemented to give countries like Bulgaria a chance for fuller participation in the proposed economic growth measures. 

 

European Council President Donald Tusk stated his high appreciation of the the fact that Rumen Radev had appointed a deputy prime minister in charge of Bulgaria's preparations for the upcoming Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2018 in the caretaker cabinet. 

 

Taking a journalist’s question about whether the nomination of a Bulgarian EU commissioner was on the meeting's agenda, President Radev said that it was not a good idea that the caretaker government put up the nominee for EU commissioner amid the heated election campaign, so that the next cabinet should consider this nomination. 

 

Later today the Bulgarian Head of State will hold a meeting with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and with European Parliament President Antonio Tajani.

 

Radev's delegation includes Stefan Yanev, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister for internal order and security and Defense Minister, Denitsa Zlateva, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Bulgaria's preparation for the EU Presidency in 2018 and caretaker Foreign Minister Radi Naydenov.