Bulgaria will propose to EU the adoption of uniform criteria for internal border control

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva announced on September 1 that Bulgaria will initiate a debate in the EU on the adoption of uniform criteria for internal border control in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. During the traditional ambassadorial conference, she called on the heads of the diplomatic missions to work on this task, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on September 1

"We in the EU have managed to introduce criteria for third countries, and at the same time there are no criteria for internal borders within the EU. The elaboration of such criteria is now one of the most important tasks" said Ekaterina Zaharieva, who opened the ambassadorial conference.

According to her, the uniform rules for control of internal borders in the EU should be clear and public, both for citizens and businesses.

"The virus will not disappear today, or tomorrow. It will take months before a vaccine is developed and mass vaccination. Personally, I think it would be a gross mistake to get to the situation in March, when there was no opportunity to move - not only for citizens but also for cargo. By the end of the week, we will initiate our proposal with a letter," said the Deputy Prime Minister. She stressed that otherwise citizens and economies are threatened by difficulties and unpredictability.

According to Ekaterina Zaharieva, the coronavirus crisis also gives Europe an opportunity to increase its sovereignty. "I am glad that a debate has begun in the EU about Europe increasing its sovereignty and independence. "I do not mean European sovereignty of the kind 'EU first,' but increasing strategic independence with the ability to resolve crises firstly in Europe," she said.

She recalled the efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure green corridors for the movement of goods between Member States and thanked the Bulgarian ambassadors for the efforts made by our diplomatic missions to open green corridors for Bulgarian goods and the return of Bulgarian citizens in their homeland at the beginning of the pandemic.

Ekaterina Zaharieva stressed that despite the coronavirus crisis, the EU and Bulgaria are achieving success. The European Council sent a strong signal of unity with the adoption in July of a common multiannual budget and a rescue plan to overcome the crisis. Bulgaria, for its part, took an important step on its path to membership in the Eurozone, being accepted in the so-called Eurozone waiting room - ERM mechanism - 2.

“Bulgaria’s admission to ERM-2 is a great success. I hope that the citizens understood what this means despite the fake news," said Ekaterina Zaharieva.

The guest of honour at the opening of the ambassadorial conference was the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria Alexander Schalenberg, who joined via video link from Vienna.

"Now we need diplomacy more than ever," said Schalenberg, who also stressed the need for unity and solidarity between the countries facing the common challenge of COVID-19 to emerge stronger from the crisis.

"Bulgaria and Austria have a lot in common. We are not big countries and we know better than others how dependent we are on international cooperation. Together, we stand for a multilateral system based on the rule of law, good governance, an open market, and especially human rights. I believe that this need for multilateralism begins with the European Union, " said the Austrian Foreign Minister.

Alexander Schalenberg expressed regret over the restrictions imposed by Austria on Bulgarian citizens entering the country and stressed that they will be lifted as soon as circumstances allow.

"For the first few weeks after the pandemic, each country initially took care of its problems at the national level. However, we quickly learned that the situation was not normal. Yes, we live in extraordinary times, but for the first time, every country faces the same problems. However, this could also be an opportunity for this crisis to be a positive impetus for multilateral cooperation," Schalenberg said.

He emphasized that during the crisis, the European Union had sent a strong signal to its partners for solidarity and responsibility by deciding on the rescue plan and the overall budget. The Austrian Foreign Minister also highlighted Bulgaria's role in keeping the European integration of the Western Balkan countries in the EU's focus.

"It is in our common interest to have a secure and prosperous Southeast Europe. I appreciate Bulgaria's extraordinary contribution to this and to the European integration of the Republic of North Macedonia and Albania," said Schalenberg, highlighting the positive role of the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighbourliness and Cooperation between our country and the Republic of North Macedonia.

The consequences of the crisis caused by the coronavirus are the focus of this year's two-day ambassadorial conference, which is attended by 71 ambassadors. Precisely because of the complicated pandemic situation around the world, the conference was organized by videoconference for the first time in its history. Among the topics discussed are the foreign policy situation in the world - the conflicts in Libya, the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, the role of Bulgaria in the EU, the work of our diplomacy in favour of the Bulgarian economy.

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