State Secretary Hans Winkler conducted the eleventh Association Council meeting between the European Union and Bulgaria on Monday in his capacity as representative of the President of the Council. Winkler was pleased with the numerous reforms and demonstrable efforts made by Bulgaria on the way to membership in the European Union, but at the same time he emphasised the need for further sustainable implementation of the reforms required. “Bulgaria has the complete support of the EU for early entry into the largest trading bloc and the largest zone of stability in the world. But it is up to Bulgaria itself to implement the remaining reforms quickly and sustainably, in order to meet the criteria established by the EU”, Winkler said.
He also stressed Bulgaria’s significance for continued rapprochement of the countries of south eastern Europe to the EU: “Precisely because of its geopolitical situation, Bulgaria plays a significant role in the intensification of cross-border cooperation with neighbouring countries in the region and in the implementation of European standards,” declared the State Secretary.
In the next few days Winkler will also be attending important meetings at the European Parliament. Today, at the Committee on Development of the European Parliament (DEVE), he presented the development policy working programme of the Austrian EU Presidency, stressing the fact that in the area of development cooperation, the EU is faced with a number of challenges “that can only be mastered if the EU presents a united front to the world, with close cooperation of the Member States, the European Parliament and the European Commission”. A priority of the EU's development efforts was and is the African continent, because two thirds of the poorest countries in the world are situated in Africa. For this reason it is all the more important “to take concrete steps and undertake initiatives on the spot, together with our African partners”, Winkler said. Not only in Africa but also in other regions of the world, the EU is facing great challenges. The fight against HIV/AIDS, the question of migration, the fight against poverty, the defence of human rights, the affirmation of the rights of women and the protection of children as well as improvement of energy supply are only a few examples of how the EU can and must continue to play an major role in effective and unified development cooperation. “Precisely now, when we are working together on the legal basis for the various financing instruments for the years ahead, we must work together effectively”, said the State Secretary.
Winkler will also speak at the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament (AFET) on the results of Monday’s General Affairs and External Relations Council.
On Wednesday, 1 February, the State Secretary, as representative of the Council, will take part in a debate on the outlook for the common foreign policy in 2006 at the plenary session of the European Parliament, and make a statement concerning the results of the Palestinian legislative elections as well as commenting the situation in the Middle East and the specific situation in East Jerusalem.
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