Today in Budapest, Hungary a COSAC Chairpersons meeting takes place. In the focus of the meeting is the presentation of the priorities of the Hungarian Presidency and the discussion on the European Commission Working Program for 2011. After the presentation of the Hungarian EU Presidency Program by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Hungary – Mr. János Martonyi, Ms. Monika Panayotova – Chairperson of the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds at the Bulgarian National Assembly addressed the Chairpersons of the European Affairs Committees as well as the representatives of the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Hungarian Presidency, participating at the meeting. Her main message was that the Shengen area is after all an area built on mutual trust. “Bulgaria takes all necessary steps to fulfill the technical criteria in compliance with the Schengen acquis. Schengen is not a privilege but a great responsibility and we work hard to build a strong and stable border for our citizens”, stated Ms. Panayotova. She expressed her gratitude towards the Hungarian Foreign Minister, the Spanish Delegation and the Vice-President of the European Parliament – Mr. Miguel Martinez Martinez for the support granted to Bulgaria and Romania for a speedy closure of the procedure for accession to the Schengen area and stated that she relies a lot on their objectivity and constructive approach. On his behalf, Mr. Martonyi declared that the Hungarian EU Presidency strongly supports Bulgaria and Romania in their efforts to fulfill the technical criteria and to join Schengen as soon as possible. Monika Panayotova assured the delegates that every single euro invested in the Schengen Facility has been subject to a double democratic control – by both the national parliament and the civil society and noted that the main objective for Bulgaria is to ensure an open and secure Europe for all European citizens. She stated that in the framework of the political dialogue Bulgaria relies a lot on the message that the national parliaments will deliver to their respective governments.

This event is the first initiative of the Program for parliamentary foreign-political activities in support to the Bulgarian accession to Schengen. The Program was elaborated and unanimously accepted by all Members of the CEAOEF and the Foreign Policy and Defence Committee, notwithstanding their political orientation.