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PLOVDIV – The voice of Bulgaria is heard in Brussels and we are listening to you, said the President of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen in Plovdiv, where she participated in a pre-election event. The leading candidate of the European People’s Party (EPP) for a new term at the head of the EC noted that 17 years have passed since Bulgaria joined the European Union.
We see every day what a success story this is – for 6.5 million Bulgarians, but also for 450 million Europeans. We want to write the next chapter of this success story together, said von der Leyen.
She added that independence and sovereignty have always been a dream and aspiration of people, as today this fully applies to the people of Ukraine.
No one wants peace more than the Ukrainian people, said von der Leyen and pointed out that Europe will be “shoulder to shoulder” with Ukrainians as long as necessary.
The President of the EC thanked the Bulgarian people for their continued support for Ukraine. “The military equipment you provide can be immediately used by Ukrainians on the battlefield against the Russian aggressor. This is of utmost importance for Ukraine’s resistance,” she emphasized.
Von der Leyen noted that Europe needs to allocate more for defense. “We need a strong European defense industry. And I know that Bulgaria can significantly contribute to this,” she added and continued by saying that Europe must be able to defend itself and protect its citizens, so in the next term a defense commissioner will also be appointed.
The President of the EC also commented that European values are now threatened by extremists and demagogues. Their names may be different, but their goal is the same: they want to trample our values and destroy our Europe, said von der Leyen.
Together we managed to adopt the Migration and Asylum Pact, with which we further strengthen Europe’s external borders, said the President of the EC and emphasized that it is high time to take stricter measures against smugglers and traffickers of migrants.
Ursula von der Leyen reminded that there are only a few days left until the elections. We must encourage people to go out and vote! Let us stand shoulder to shoulder in the name of prosperity, in the name of security and democracy. And above all, dear friends, let us stand shoulder to shoulder in the name of Europe, concluded the President of the EC.
Ursula von der Leyen’s visit to Plovdiv was at the invitation of GERB-SDS, for which leading local sociological agencies predict first place in the elections at the end of the week. (02.06.2024)