French President Suppots Bulgaria’s Accession to Schengen, Eurozone Waiting Room

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed support for Bulgaria’s joining the Schengen Area and the Eurozone waiting room because Bulgaria met all the criteria.

This became clear after his meetings with Bulgaria’s head of state, President Roumen Radev and Prime Minister Boyko Borissov on 25^th of August. In turn, President Macron requested and received support by President Radev and PM Borissov for changes to the Posted Workers Directive in the Union, with the aim of eliminating the so-called "social dumping" associated with lower pay for workers in Eastern Europe.

Not only it was the first visit of a French head of state in 10 years, but certainly the first one where the French president was invited jointly by both the Bulgarian head of state and the Prime Minister Boyko Borisov. A visit described by Emmanuel Macron as friendly in a country, which is a strategic partner to France. A visit demonstrating the country's firm intention not to divide Europe into the North and South, East and West.

“I am here today not only because Boyko Borissov was the first European leader I received in France but also because he is my friend and I thank him for the invitation. I have already had the opportunity to judge to what extent the Prime Minister has committed himself to Bulgaria's participation in all strategic decisions the European Union has taken and will take in the future,”President Macron said.

“The second aspect is related to the accession of Bulgaria to the Schengen Area. Bulgaria has fully met the criteria. My wish is to revise these rules relating to the Schengen Area and Bulgaria to participate fully in the discussions related to the revision of these rules.”

“And I will express it figuratively - when we have French employers who hire Bulgarian workers and pay them at Bulgarian prices in France - no, I do not agree with that,” President Macron added.

Four are the key topics on which a complete unanimity between the French head of state, the Bulgarian President and the PM was achieved on 25th of August.

Macron was firm that France has supported and will actively support Bulgaria’s accession into the Eurozone waiting room and the Schengen Area, as well as Bulgaria’s active involvement in the decision-making process for reforms in the Schengen system.

Macron has linked this support to the excellent work of our country in protecting the EU's external borders and the subject of common European security, which is important for France.

"By the end of October, we will have a to-the-point agreement on the Posted Workers Directive in order to eliminate social dumping," the French President said after the meeting with PM Borissov later in the day.

Both President Radev and Prime Minister Boyko Borisov were of the opinion that this is a problem that needs to be resolved in the name of higher incomes and a better living standards for workers from the new members of the European Union. "The reform of the Posted Workers Directive figured high on the agenda of the talks," Radev said.

Bulgaria opposes to evasion of social security contributions and circumvention of rules, Radev said but in his opinion the question of social rights is not confined to that directive. President Radev added that there were other problems such as tax and corporate dumping as well as paying workers from the new Member States several times less than their colleagues of the old Member States for work of the same quantity and quality," Radev added.

The priorities of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union related to the European future for the Western Balkans, bilateral military, economic and cultural cooperation were also on the agenda of the talks.

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