What Andrey spoke about.

14

Feb

2023

EN Speech

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Question Time (Commission) - Strengthened EU enlargement policy to the Western Balkans

Thank you very much, dear Olivér, for what you said. And I followed very closely also the negotiation framework and the implementation of this prerequisite for the starting of the second governmental conference. But can you please confirm that this is not only the change of the constitution but also the respect of the treaty from 2017, which – it is very important to mention and to emphasise the t…

14

Feb

2023

BG Speech

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Question Time (Commission) - Strengthened EU enlargement policy to the Western Balkans

Mr President, Commissioner, dear Oliver. First, I would like to start by thanking you for your efforts in the accession process of the countries of the Western Balkans, despite all the multi-layered problems related to the candidate countries, historically related to identity, regional and religious issues, as well as the influence of Russia. Macedonian Bulgarians, like all other citizens, must li…

13

Feb

2023

BG Speech

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EU response to the humanitarian situation following the earthquake in Türkiye and Syria (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, nature has confronted us with a huge tragedy that shows us once again how fragile human life is. There is no way to bring back the more than 35,000 who have so far died in Turkey, no matter how many in Syria, but at least we can reduce the suffering of those who have experienced this horror. The European Union has shown in practice that it is based on the idea of sol…

17

Jan

2023

BG Speech

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The establishment of a tribunal on the crime of aggression against Ukraine (debate)

Madam President, there is no justification for the Kremlin's crimes in Ukraine and they cannot be left without consequences. There can be no impunity. The European institutions and the Member States must now take the initiative to establish an international tribunal for the aggression against Ukraine. There must be justice for the hundreds of thousands of victims, which include Ukrainians, Bulgari…

13

Dec

2022

BG Speech

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The recent JHA Council decision on Schengen accession (debate)

Mr President, 11 years, 11 years, we repeat the same thing, the Commission, Parliament, the independent security experts, that Bulgaria and Romania fulfil all the technical criteria and there is always someone in the Council who says that because of the internal and political situation, be it elections, local, national or other internal policies, this is not the moment. I can no longer listen to t…

23

Nov

2022

EN Speech

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Human rights situation in Egypt (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, the European Union and Egypt are partners and friends and as such, we can share our concerns and engage with goodwill and in good faith for the improvement of the human rights situation in Egypt. We believe that only with such positive engagement can we achieve good results for the benefit of the citizens of Egypt, as well as for the civil society, the …

22

Nov

2022

BG Speech

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New EU strategy for enlargement (debate)

Madam President, the European Union must double or triple its efforts for the accession of the countries of the Western Balkans, especially in the current geopolitical environment. That should be one of our top priorities. However, I will deal specifically with Serbia, because its politics have influence in many countries of the former Yugoslavia. It is in the interest of both Serbian citizens and…

22

Nov

2022

EN Speech

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Promoting regional stability and security in the broader Middle East region (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, we should demonstrate again our constructive role the EU wants to play in the Middle East as a key partner and a credible mediator. I welcome the positive developments in the region, as has been mentioned: the normalisation of democratic relations between some Arab countries and Israel through the so-called Abraham Accords, the agreement between Leba…

19

Oct

2022

BG Speech

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EU-Western Balkans relations in light of the new enlargement package (debate)

I am, unfortunately, disappointed by yesterday's decision of the Parliament of both the government and the opposition in North Macedonia to create new obstacles for the Bulgarian organizations in this country, to create an atmosphere of hatred and discrimination against the Bulgarians in the Republic of North Macedonia. This has to stop and we have to be together.…

18

Oct

2022

EN Speech

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Question Time (Commission) - Protecting critical infrastructure in the EU against attacks and countering hybrid attacks

Thank you very much, Vice-President, for this answer. One second issue on the responsibility of big platforms, Internet platforms. We have now the DSA and the DMA, but we see that these big platforms, especially private companies, US companies, are monetarising disinformation. Democracy cannot fall victim to a business model of a private company. We see that the fact—checkers, content moderators a…

18

Oct

2022

EN Speech

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Question Time (Commission) - Protecting critical infrastructure in the EU against attacks and countering hybrid attacks

President, Vice-President, I am going directly to the two questions which I have. It is common sense that a perpetrator who is guilty of destroying infrastructure and making a lot of casualties needs to pay for this destruction. We talked a lot about the assets of the Russian Federation – state and local authority assets – in the territory of the European Union, but also the assets of the Russian …

5

Oct

2022

BG Speech

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The accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area (debate)

Madam President, Vice-President of the Commission, Minister Beck, it is true that we have been discussing this topic in plenary for 11 years. I would like to express my great gratitude to the vast majority of colleagues who have always defended justice and the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen area, which is already written in the pre-accession treaties. It was not requested by Bul…

5

Oct

2022

BG Speech

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Russia’s escalation of its war of aggression against Ukraine (debate)

Mr President, Ukraine has fought bravely against Russian aggression since the start of the war in 2014. Ukrainian citizens, regardless of their ethnic origin, are selflessly defending their country. All the expectations of the Kremlin aggressor that their victory will happen quickly do not come true. Ukraine’s counter-offensive has forced Putin to take insane steps, trampling on elementary interna…

4

Oct

2022

EN Speech

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Question Time (VPC/HR) Heightening tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan following the recent military escalation

A concrete question: did you contact President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan for a possible date of their next meeting? Under EU mediation for sure.

4

Oct

2022

EN Speech

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Question Time (VPC/HR) Heightening tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan following the recent military escalation

Mr President, dear High Representative, peace and stability in the South Caucasus region can be only a result of serious and irreversible confidence-building measures. All prisoners of war must be released and all hostilities must stop immediately. The EU must play a very important role as a mediator. Russia, we see very clearly, is not interested in solving the issue, but is interested to have a …

4

Oct

2022

BG Speech

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Radio Equipment Directive: common charger for electronic devices (debate)

. – Madam President, Commissioner, Alex, dear colleagues, the main motivation for adopting this legislation is to make everyday life easier for millions of European consumers of electronic devices, not just mobile phones. We have waited long enough for the market to regulate itself. Now is the time to act. I am happy that after the abolition of roaming charges in the European Union, we will also v…

14

Sep

2022

BG Speech

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Illegal detention of the opposition leader in Bulgaria (topical debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, honourable Members, the rule of law cannot be considered selectively only if it meets the political objectives of a party. Is it a coincidence that on the day Mr. Boyko Borisov was arrested, he stated publicly that he would support sending military equipment to Ukraine. At last, second instance, the Bulgarian Court found that the detention order did not meet the standar…

14

Sep

2022

BG Speech

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State of the Union (debate)

Madam President, I welcome the European Commission's will to continue its support and solidarity towards Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, who are fighting for our common freedom against the Russian aggression. The Bulgarian motto ‘United we stand strong’ should also guide the members of the European Council. The more united we are on all topics - energy prices, the recovery and competitiveness of…

5

Jul

2022

BG Speech

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2021 Report on Kosovo (debate)

Madam President, Kosovo has shown commitment to implementing the necessary reforms, there is huge public support for European integration, and now is the time for the government to use its stable majority in parliament and continue with the necessary reforms. At the same time, as we have often said, European integration is a two-way street. The European Union, the European Council must deliver on …

5

Jul

2022

BG Speech

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2021 Report on Serbia (debate)

on behalf of the ALDE Group. - Mr President, on three main points, I would like to address. Serbia is the only candidate country for membership of the European Union that has not yet joined the European Union's common foreign and security policy, especially now with regard to Russia and Russia's aggression in Ukraine. Belgrade gives very often signals, now also, about close cooperation with Russia…

18

May

2022

BG Speech

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2021 Report on Albania (debate)

Mr President, honourable Members, Albania must start membership negotiations as soon as possible. The European Commission has repeatedly confirmed that Albania has met the requirements for starting these negotiations. I congratulate Tirana on its participation and its full support for all European Union policies related to the war in Ukraine. However, reforms must be deep, irreversible and cover f…

18

May

2022

BG Speech

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2021 Report on North Macedonia (debate)

Dear Mr. Dzhambazki, this is exactly the case. I share what you say. We are not talking about an academic dispute between two countries. We are talking about basic human rights, discrimination, hate speech, it is dangerous to say your self-determination. Just as we respect the self-determination of every living person who defines himself as an ethnic Macedonian, so must the self-determination of e…

18

May

2022

BG Speech

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2021 Report on North Macedonia (debate)

Mr President, honourable Members, following Putin's aggression in Ukraine, the integration into the European Union of all the countries of the Western Balkans must now, more than ever, be supported. Macedonia is on a difficult path from a dependent entity in the former Yugoslavia to an independent European state. Bulgaria has supported Macedonia for the past 30 years in all respects on its way to …

6

Apr

2022

BG Speech

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Increasing repression in Russia, including the case of Alexey Navalny

Mr President, the Russian regime has intensified in an unprecedented manner the brutal repression of peacefully demonstrating Russian citizens, independent journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and civil society activists in an attempt to silence any criticism of and opposition to its illegal, unprovoked and unjustified military aggression in Ukraine. The Kremlin's propaganda is trying to …

6

Apr

2022

BG Speech

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Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 24-25 March 2022: including the latest developments of the war against Ukraine and the EU sanctions against Russia and their implementation (debate)

Madam President, Mr Borrell, Commissioner, it is difficult to find words to express the horror of the Russian barbarism committed before the eyes of the world in Ukraine. When we are faced with a moral human choice between good and evil, we cannot be neutral. Neutrality means that we are together with the aggressor. Despite the huge investments in the Kremlin's propaganda war, however, there can b…