The role of national parliaments and the European Parliament is especially important in the current discussion on the future of the European project and in particular, in the implementation of the priorities of the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy, said Speaker of Parliament Tsveta Karayancheva at the official opening of the Inter-Parliamentary Conference for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Policy for Security and Defence.

“We hope that the idea of European unity is accepted by all Europeans. It is true that there are different views on how and not whether European cooperation should be more effective. We are confident that it is the dialogue that shapes the community,” said the Speaker of Parliament.

Tsveta Karyancheva said that we needed a more flexible and integrated approach, and strengthen the ties between EU member states to fight effectively terrorism, the migrant flow, as well as more active cooperation in the area of defence. In the context of the priority of the Bulgarian Presidency to implement an active policy towards the Western Balkan countries, the Speaker of Parliament said that they belonged to the EU and only their progress in fulfilling the criteria for membership would determine when they would join the Union. We do not need to draw new dividing lines in Europe, but build bridges, in the literal and figurative sense, added the Speaker of Parliament.

In her welcome address to the delegates of the inter-parliamentary conference, Foreign Policy Committee Chair Dzhema Grozdanova said that the debate on the future of the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy was affected by the changing environment in Europe. “One of our most important tasks as parliamentarians is to take into account the changed public attitudes. Europeans want more security and are aware that the new threats to security that we are facing can destroy what the EU has achieved. We need strengthened cooperation in the area of security and defence in order to protect the external borders of the Union, strengthen peace in the neighbouring countries and find solutions of international conflicts in the interest of the EU”, said Dzhema Grozdanova.

According to the parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee Chair, the first step in this direction has been made with the adoption of the Permanent Structured Cooperation on Security and Defence (PESCO). In addition, Dzhema Grozdanova mentioned that the work should be focused on fostering faster information exchange between security services, and establishing constructive relations in the area of security with third countries and the UK after Brexit.

“There should be an emphasis on the Balkans for a strong foreign policy of the EU. We need to use as much as possible the political momentum gained during the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU to turn the region from a source of insecurity into some of the solutions that guarantee security in Europe”, said Dzhema Grozdanova.

Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the European Parliament David McAllister commended the hosts of the event, in particular, Foreign Policy Committee Chair Dzhema Grozdanova and Defence Committee Chair General Konstantin Popov and thanked for the excellent organisation. Davidd McAllister emphasised the need of a coordinated and comprehensive approach in the implementation of the Common Foreign Policy of the Union. The Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the European Parliament praised the priority of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU to support the European integration of the Western Balkans and emphasised the key role of national parliaments in the is process. “It is up to us to create preconditions to build effective democracies in the Western Balkans region, and not be passive witnesses”, said David McAllister in conclusion.

The conference is organised twice a year by the parliamentary Foreign Policy and Defence Committees of the EU member state holding the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU in close cooperation with the European Parliament.