The deputy minister mandated by the incoming Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU (first six months of 2018) for relations with the European Parliament, Monika Panayotova, made clear on Friday 24 November the importance of its presidency for the Western Balkans.
“This is a specific priority of our Presidency”, she said at a presentation of the Presidency programme organised by the EPC. “We are fully convinced that the prosperity and stability of Europe are linked to the prosperity and stability of the Western Balkans”, she said, adding that the doors to the EU must remain open. At the same time, she displayed realism: “I wouldn’t like to create unrealistic expectations but I want to provide motivation and give hope to the countries of the Western Balkans”, she stated, pointing out that the prospect of the European accession was a key force for achieving reform and for “serious political and economic change”.
Bulgaria also wants to put an emphasis on energy, transport, education and digital connectivity in the Western Balkans. The minister called, for example, for lower roaming charges and the development of Wi-fi everywhere.
She also spoke of the other priorities of the Bulgarian Presidency. Bulgaria wants a focus on young people and to work on developing the skills necessary for the jobs of the future and creating European values through education. The mid-term review of the Erasmus + programme will also take place during the Bulgarian presidency.
The Presidency intends to make progress on economic growth and social cohesion, notably by strengthening Economic and Monetary Union. “We see the stability, the openness and the inclusive nature of the eurozone as a key precondition for the future of the European project”, said the deputy minister. Bulgaria is hoping to be invited to join the eurozone at the end of 2018. In the first quarter of 2018, discussions on the multiannual financial framework are due to begin, with the debate focusing, in particular, on cohesion policy and also “opportunities to modernise and simplify the common agricultural policy where 70% of Europe is rural”, Panayotova said.
The security and stability of Europe is another priority for the incoming Presidency. Its work on security will cover permanent structured cooperation, asylum policy, with the strengthening of the European asylum system, and implementation of the revised internal security strategy. The Presidency also wants to work on clean energy.
Following on from the Estonian Presidency, Bulgaria, which supports free movement of data and ideas, will continue to work on the digital economy and cyber-security. “The EU needs to act quickly and comprehensively in the digital domain”, Panayotova argued.
Lastly, the minister said it is important that the EU does not lose sight of three key principles: consensus, competitiveness and cohesion. “They are often taken for granted but they are like oxygen: it’s only when there isn’t any that we realise it’s too late”, she suggested. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)