We support France’s strategic vision for a sovereign, united, more efficient and independent Europe. All EU member states should participate in this initiative for it to be successful. This is what President Rumen Radev said at a meeting with a delegation from the France-Bulgaria Friendship Group in the National Assembly of France, which is paying an official visit to Bulgaria. The delegation is led by Antoine Herth – Chairman of the Friendship Group.

The Head of State and the French MPs discussed the challenges Europe is facing and the need to strengthen the dialogue between the individual EU member states. President Radev emphasized that the variants for a multi-speed EU run counter to the united Europe idea and also to the traditional values that concrete policies such as solidarity and cohesion embody. Any initiative that results in an additional division of Europe would not be productive, Rumen Radev further said.

The Head of State identified agriculture, culture, IT, tourism, defense as sectors of mutual interest, which have a potential to strengthen cooperation. It is essential that more opportunities should be created for partnership in the sphere of culture and education, particularly among the two countries’ youth because the business follows the contacts between people, Rumen Radev said.