The meeting between the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson and the Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Nickolay Mladenov focused on bilateral relations and cooperation within the European Union. It is important, first of all, because Estonia and Bulgaria will share the presidency of the European Union in 2018. Mihkelson stressed: “Bulgaria is an important partner for Estonia in the European Union. Cooperation in anticipation of the 2018 presidency requires us to closely coordinate our actions.” 

One topic of the meeting was the current economic and financial situation of the European Union. The two parties affirmed that respect for the agreements signed is paramount in solving problems. As concerns the European Union Neighbourhood Policy, the democratic elections in Georgia and developments in Moldova received a positive mention. Ukraine, on the other hand, is expected to carry out reforms more forcefully, respect democratic processes, guarantee human rights and behave as a rule of law. 

Discussing the situation in Syria, the parties emphasised the need for the international community to act decisively to end the bloodshed and to guarantee a peaceful resolution of the problems of the country, in order to avoid the transmission and spreading of tension to the whole region. 

The issues of energy should be solved with full account taken of the interests of all the EU Member States, the parties agreed. 

At the end of the meeting, Mladenov invited Mihkelson to Bulgaria to tighten the cooperation of the two states in achieving the common objectives. 

The Riigikogu Press Service 

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