Bulgarian President, European Council President Discuss Security of EU External Border

Meeting with European Council President Donald Tusk in Brussels Monday, the new Bulgarian President, Rumen Radev, raised issues that are important for his country, including border security, and found understanding, Radev told reports on the first day of a two-day working visit to the Belgian capital. It is his first overseas trip in his capacity as Bulgarian head of State after he won the presidential elections late last year.

"Bulgaria has its very important issues and the first of them is security, the migrant crisis. When you don't have security, you don't have investment and economic development," said the Bulgarian President. 

He said that he raised the issue of border security in all its aspects. "We have [Brussels'] full understanding of the issues facing us. We expect even bigger help," said Radev. He went on to say that EU solidarity means that everybody participates in the efforts to protect the external border."

Radev said Bulgaria needs to be sure that its border is well protected and more effort is needed for this. "Look at our police and their equipment and then look at the Frontex people: there is a huge difference," he said adding that the conditions must be made equal.  

Radev said that Tusk expects more detailed information about Bulgaria's needs in this department.

 

 

BTA