During the Bulgarian EU Presidency the Balkan issues will become more prominent and visible to Europe, say the Speaker of the Bulgarian Parliament and the President of the Hellenic Parliament. Nikolaos Voutsis, President of the Hellenic Parliament, has come to Bulgaria on an official visit. He made a speech in the plenary hall of the Bulgarian Parliament and talked to Dimitar Glavchev, Speaker of the National Assembly.

The successful and fruitful cooperation between Bulgaria, Greece and Romania has set the beginning of a Balkan group within the united EU, said the Speaker of the Bulgarian Parliament in a statement to the media. Dimitar Glavchev said that the three countries would be the core of a future Balkan group in view of the European prospect for the Western Balkans, which has been set as a major priority of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

At the talks with my Greek counterpart we were happy to acknowledge the wonderful relations between the two countries, outlined common problems which called for common solutions, we also acknowledged the excellent relations between our nations, said Dimitar Glavchev. When two nations are connected, it is the politicians’ duty at least not to stand in the way, and with regard to Bulgaria and Greece, politicians facilitate closer ties, said the Speaker of the National Assembly. In his words, the latest agreement on a multimodal transport corridor, connecting the Danube from Russe, through the Black Sea at Varna to Alexandroupoli, Kavala and Thessaloniki, is a symbol of such a connection. 

With regard to the forthcoming Presidency of the Council of the EU, I mentioned the big responsibility and honour for Bulgaria to become Europe’s centre in the first six months of 2018, said Dimitar Glavchev. In his words, this will open up additional opportunities for the country to become a regional centre. In Sofia the Balkan issues will become more prominent and visible to Europe, added the Speaker of the Bulgarian Parliament.

Nikolaos Voutsis, President of the Hellenic Parliament, said that the forthcoming Bulgarian EU Presidency, the crisis in the EU and the prospects of development of the EU were discussed at the meeting. Today we are making a small step in the wide stream of policies on the future of the EU, which follows the path made by the visits of Presidents and Prime Ministers in Varna, he said. Greece is the 10th EU member state and we have gained some very rich and fruitful, and some negative experience, said the President of the Hellenic Parliament. Nikolaos Voutsis expressed his hopes that a consensus would be reached for a Europe where the principles, rules and regulations would not be applied selectively, but be valid for all, Europe where there will be agreement on a high political level, based on the principles of democracy, Europe, which would achieve not only economic but also social convergence. 

Not only Bulgaria and Greece, but also other Balkan countries, have enough advantages to make their voice heard and be able to implement policies in the EU, said the President of the Hellenic Parliament. Bulgaria and Greece are a steady pole in our region, a pole of stability, humanity and sensitivity, as regards the acceptance of migrant flows, he emphasised. 

“Thank you very much for the high honour to address the Bulgarian MPs. Together we are making a small step on the way the future of the Balkans and our nations within a EU which will be changing towards social convergence, fair democratic relations, security and peace,” wrote the President of the Hellenic Parliament in the Book of Honour of the National Assembly. 

Nikolaos Voutsis laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Then the guest and Dimitar Glavchev, Speaker of the National Assembly, visited ST Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. 

The programme of the official visit of the President of the Hellenic Parliament includes meetings with President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev and Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev.