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Rumen Radev: the Security and Economic Development of the Balkans are Connected with the European Prospects of the Whole region

The trust in the bilateral relations and Serbia’s declared will should be leading to effective solutions of the problems of the Bulgarian national minority, the Head of State said in an interview for the Serbian magazine CorD

The announced 2025 horizon for the accession of the Western Balkan countries to the EU is a new chance and stimulus for Serbia and the other membership candidates to complete all the necessary reforms. This is a long path that requires all stakeholders be brought together to achieve what has been stated by all Serbian politicians as the strategic goal of Serbia – membership in the EU. This is what President Rumen Radev said in an interview for the Serbian magazine CorD. The Head of State highlighted the strengthening of the rule of law, protecting minority rights, media freedoms and accelerating public sector and economic reforms as key factors for achieving progress in the process of European integration.

“The Western Balkans’ accession to a United Europe has been a goal of Bulgaria ever since the country joined the European Union in 2007. More importantly, this was among the goals of the enlargement policy of the EU itself, which was set in the decisions made in the so-called Thessaloniki Agenda of 2003. The fact that this topic was “frozen” as an item on the EU agenda during the past decade is not in Bulgaria’s interests, nor those of any country in the region, nor even of the EU,” Rumen Radev said. The President emphasized that the security, stability and economic developments in the Balkans are connected with implementing the European prospects of the entire region.

“As a member state of the EU, and as a Balkan country, Bulgaria remains committed to the European prospects of the entire region and has proven its readiness to support and assist the countries of the Western Balkans on their path to the EU. Following the end of its EU Presidency, Bulgaria remains active in the EU Troika Presidency and continues to work for the focus to remain on the region of the Western Balkans,” the Head of State further said.

In reply to a question concerning the results of his visit to Serbia in June 2018, Rumen Radev noted the positive trend in the development of the political dialogue, the growth of bilateral trade that exceeds one billion euros and also the increased number of tourists. “There is good cooperation between the two countries in the spheres of defence, internal affairs and migration. We work together successfully on a number of large-scale projects in the areas of connectivity, which I think is of great importance to the future and the security of both of our countries,” Rumen Radev added. The President voiced his expectation that the Bulgarian-Serbian gas interconnector will be completed by 2022 and our country will speed up the work on building the highway that will connect Bulgaria and Serbia as part of the Trans-European Transport network that is the shortest route between Western Europe and the Middle East.

Asked to comment the greatest challenge the Bulgarian national minority in Serbia is facing, Rumen Radev emphasized that the climate of confidence that exists and the political will of the Serbian state that has been demonstrated should be leading to effective and durable solutions to the problems of the Bulgarian National Minority in the area of education, freedom of religion, access to information in mother tongue and others. “The respect for the rights of the Bulgarian minority is important not only for Bulgaria, but also for Serbia, as well as with regard to our bilateral relations and the European prospects of the whole region,” the President said.

The Head of State identified the steps taken by Serbia and the results achieved in improving the situation of the Bulgarian national minority as encouraging. “Standing together with President Vu?i? during my visit to Dimitrovgrad and addressing the representatives of the Bulgarian National Minority was a sign of the unity and strong determination of our countries to continue building stronger partnerships and trust in the years ahead,” the President further said. Rumen Radev welcomed the important amendments to legislation concerning the rights of national minorities in Serbia and and called for efficient actions to ensure that they are further implemented in practice. “The institution of National Councils should be encouraged to make full use of the rights vested in it by the state in line with Serbian legislation,” was the position expressed by the President. 

Rumen Radev voiced his gratitude to his Serbian counterpart Alexander Vu?i? for the assumed commitment to the problems of the Bulgarian national minority and for his decisive support during the meeting of the two Heads of State in Belgrade for the three-fold increase of the funding by the Serbian state of the media companies in Serbia that produce media content in the Bulgarian language.

In reply to a question concerning how he sees the future of Europe and Bulgaria’s positions within the reformed EU, Rumen Radev said that the next couple of years will see the EU go through tough times and an internal debate should be held within the EU.

“Radical change is needed, because our Union went through several crises - the financial downturn that we witnessed almost 10 years ago reduced economic growth, which was very difficult to overcome. Unemployment remains at relatively high levels, especially among young people, and this has exacerbated latent social contradictions and the integration of ethnic communities. The EU has suffered some kind of crisis of confidence. Some European citizens question its ability to cope with the challenges,” the President said. The Head of State called for the EU reaffirming itself as a union that “addresses the needs of ordinary citizens” and the division lines that appeared between the North and the South, between the West and the East, must be erased.

“If we are able to implement this vision, it is also obvious that Europe should run at one speed. But, above all, the need remains to protect the values that kept Europe together for more than six decades. Bulgaria is also very interested in preserving core EU policies, such as economic cohesion and regarding agriculture,” Rumen Radev further said.  

Asked to comment the appeal he made during his visit in May in Moscow regarding the preservation of the potential for direct gas supplies to Bulgaria and the EU via the Black Sea and whether the project will be politically acceptable for the EU, the President reiterated that this remains the safest and cheapest route, and is a direct route as well. “The need for direct supplies of Russian gas to the territory of EU countries is conditioned by common sense, as well as by the requirements for energy security and reliability. They form the foundation of the now established European energy union. As to whether the project will be politically acceptable for the EU, I would like to say once again that ensuring the transit of gas supplies along the South Stream pipeline is by no means different from Germany’s plans to implement the construction of North Stream 2 gas pipeline, given that the requirements of the EU’s Third Energy Package are met, of course. I do hope that Brussels accepts this idea with understanding, ever more so considering that this ensures additional gas supplies not only to Bulgaria, but also to Serbia, Hungary, Austria, and northern Italy, among other countries,” the President said.

The Head of State emphasized that the role of foreign policy is to ensure that the gates are wide open for dialogue and cooperation, instead of singling out foes. The EU’s relations with Russia cannot but be influenced by the political crises in Eastern Europe.  Nevertheless, the refusal to hold any dialogue whatsoever cannot possibly be a solution to a crisis. “Despite the ongoing tension in EU-Russian relations and the mutually imposed sanctions, Russia has reaffirmed itself as Europe’s traditional partner in the sectors of energy, the economy, tourism and the fight against terrorism. The leading EU member states have defended their economic interests in Russia, and I see no reason why this should not also be valid for Bulgaria,” the President commented. Rumen Radev called for avoiding the tone of aggression that should become a common principle in bilateral relations, while holding a pragmatic dialogue with the biggest country in Eastern Europe is in the common interests of both the EU and Russia.

In his interview for the CorD magazine, the Head of State identified the agreement reached between Greece and the Republic of Macedonia on its name, as one of the toughest problems in our region. “If the two countries are

able to go through the legal procedures for putting the agreement into force, it would provide a solid base for establishing good neighbourly relations between these two countries. I hope that the Treaty between Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia will play the same role vis-à-vis my country,” Rumen Radev emphasized.

You can read the full text of the interview on the site of the presidential institution https://www.president.bg/interviews-president4543/intervyu-na-prezidenta-rumen-radev-za-srabskoto-spisanie-cord-magazine.html