/ world today news/ Bulgaria should have a key role in the process of expanding the European Union with the countries of the Western Balkans. This was stated by the leader of BSP – Sofia Kaloyan Pargov. He participated in a round table on “The European Union, the Balkans and Bulgaria”, organized by the National Association for International Relations, the University of National and World Economy and the Bulgarian Diplomatic Society.
“The European Union enlargement policy is the most effective tool for guaranteeing peace, stability and prosperity in the Balkans, said Kaloyan Pargov. – Bulgaria must support this process and consider it irreversible. However, in order for EU enlargement to happen, The Balkans in general, and specifically the countries of the Western part, need a European perspective. A development strategy based on mutually beneficial economic partnership is necessary. I mean mainly the development of the industry in the Balkan countries, as well as common infrastructure projects.”
Therefore, according to Kaloyan Pargov, a Public Council should be established in Bulgaria at the National Assembly, in which representatives of non-governmental civil organizations and experts will participate. “This body will have the main task of generating ideas and proposals, he explained. – The experts will analyze and discuss the various possibilities for fulfilling the goal – joining the Western Balkans to the European Union. Of course, the members of the Public Council must propose ideas and initiatives , through which the Bulgarian national interest will also be protected during the participation of our country in the negotiation process.
Kaloyan Pargov is adamant that Bulgaria should have a leading role in the dialogue to implement the necessary reforms in the countries of the Western Balkans in order to achieve the necessary standards for their accession to the EU. The leader of the capital’s socialists also believes that the EU should rethink its approach regarding the measures it uses to ensure the achievement of the necessary standards for the accession of the countries of the region. According to him, the approach should be rather positive in order to motivate the countries in their efforts, without reaching sanctions such as reducing the pre-accession financial aid.
“The Bulgarian presidency provides an excellent opportunity to lay the foundations for a new EU dialogue with the Western Balkans, commented the leader of the capital’s socialists. – The suspension of the enlargement process announced by Jean-Claude Juncker in 2014 is wrong and untimely. Enlargement is as possible the good European strategy towards the Balkans for the democratic inclusion of a region that is inextricably linked to the EU Ultimately, tackling the serious challenges facing Europe can be done with more and deeper integration, and this inevitably includes accession of the countries of the Western Balkans”.
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