This footage shows the extracts of the meeting between Roberta METSOLA, EP President, and Nikolai DENKOV, Bulgarian Prime Minister. The selection includes also the extracts fo the address to the plenary of Nikolai DENKOV, Bulgarian Prime Minister. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

statement

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

EU - Bulgaria (T)

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

This is Europe Debate (T)

This is Europe with Nikolai DENKOV, Bulgarian Prime Minister: meeting with Roberta METSOLA, EP President, and extracts from the address to the plenary

Exterior shots arrival of Nikolai DENKOV, Bulgarian Prime Minister, welcome by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Strasbourg, France, 22/11/2023, (2 shots)

Interior shots family photo and hand shake with Nikolai DENKOV, Bulgarian Prime Minister and Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Strasbourg, France, 22/11/2023, (3 shots)

Interior shots, signature of the guests book by  Nikolai DENKOV, Bulgarian Prime Minister and Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Strasbourg, France, 22/11/2023, (3 shots)

Interior shots, meeting with Nikolai DENKOV, Bulgarian Prime Minister and Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Strasbourg, France, 22/11/2023, (1 shot)

Interior shots, arrival in chamber, Nikolai DENKOV, Bulgarian Prime Minister and Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Strasbourg, France, 22/11/2023, (1 shot)

SOUNDBITE in English, Roberta METSOLA, EP President Dear Prime Minister, I would like to particularly thank Bulgaria for its support for Ukraine, for providing military aid, for providing military and political support. Europe is stronger thanks to Bulgaria and your government and will be stronger still when you join the eurozone and finally take your rightful place in the Schengen area.

SOUNDBITE in Englsih, Nikolay DENKOV, Prime Minister of Bulgaria Putin's Russia tries to use our economic ties a bit between Bulgaria and Russia and also the traditional cultural links between the Bulgarian and the Russian peoples. That's why I think the fully fledged membership of Bulgaria, the European Union and NATO is the guarantee of the European way and development of our country. That's why we need to finalize our accession to the euro area and the Schengen area.

SOUNDBITE in English, Nikolay DENKOV, Prime Minister of Bulgaria given the very complex international situation, the enlargement of the European Union becomes even more relevant and important. Bulgaria has always been strongly in favor for the accession of Western Balkan countries to the European Union. At the same time, we believe that these states should become EU member States only when they meet all criteria.

SOUNDBITE in English, Nikolay DENKOV, Prime Minister of Bulgaria Actually, Putin's war against Ukraine is a war against Europe. When we defend protect Ukraine, we defend and protect Europe. Otherwise, tomorrow, Moldova could become a new Ukraine. The other day, the Baltic states, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and other European countries.

SOUNDBITE in English, Nikolay DENKOV, Prime Minister of Bulgaria We need a new strategy that will make a clear distinction between war refugees and economic migrants. The European Union has to make all efforts to integrate refugees and to discourage and stop illegal and economic migration.

SOUNDBITE in English, Nikolay DENKOV, Prime Minister of Bulgaria Bulgaria has met all the criteria for accession to the Schengen area. Any further delays of our accession are unacceptable and they cannot be understood by the Bulgarian general public.

SOUNDBITE in English, Nikolay DENKOV, Prime Minister of Bulgaria But when Lukashenka, Putin and all the others will be bygone, when there are no young heroes with just a passport hanging from the neck and a telephone number written on their palm, we will have free, democratic and united Europe. Thank you.