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Roundup: Bulgaria wants to further integrate into EU, contribute to NATO security: president

Xinhua, June 15, 2015 Adjust font size:

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev here on Monday said his country wanted to further integrate into the European Union (EU) by 2018, and contribute to the collective defense of NATO.

At a joint press conference after talks with visiting Portuguese counterpart Anibal Cavaco Silva, Plevneliev said he informed him on Bulgaria's ambitious goals towards EU integration by 2018, including to join Schengen, single banking supervisory mechanism, and the Exchange Rate Mechanism II between the euro and national currencies.

"I believe that very soon, thanks to the efforts of Bulgarian statehood and with the support of international partners, we will move to the first stage of our accession to the border-free Schengen area, by opening our sea and air borders," Plevneliev said.

Plevneliev thanked Portugal for its unconditional support for Bulgaria's EU, NATO, and Schengen membership, as well as for the software product of the Schengen information system provided freely by Portugal.

During the meeting, the two presidents also discussed a number of issues on the European agenda, particularly the European energy union that was "strongly supported by their countries," and the unprecedented migratory pressures on the external borders of the EU, Plevneliev said.

Meanwhile, answering a question on the possible deployment of U.S. troops and armaments in Bulgaria, Plevneliev said "currently, we are monitoring the process of decision-making in Washington on the idea of the United States to increase the level of security of some allies, especially those on the eastern border."

The Bulgarian government had so far not received any proposal to be discussed, Plevneliev said.

He added his country was a worthy, active and responsible member of NATO, contributing to NATO's collective defense.

"If there are additional mechanisms and ideas under bilateral cooperation, for example between Bulgaria and the United States, we will act responsibly when we receive a concrete proposal," Plevneliev said.

For his part, Silva said Bulgaria had made great effort to fulfill all the necessary requirements to join Schengen.

Bulgaria, along with Romania, had hoped to join Schengen in March 2011, but some Schengen members expressed reluctance due to concerns over alleged corruption and the security situation in the two Balkan states. The two countries are still in the waiting room of Schengen.

Finally, in the presence of the two presidents, Bulgarian and Portuguese governments signed a bilateral cooperation program in the field of language, education and science, culture, sports, youth and public information for the period 2015 to 2018. Endit