site.btaPresident Radev Speaks at Meeting of Arraiolos Group in Athens

October 11 (BTA) - Speaking at the summit meeting
of the heads of State of the Arraiolos Group which this year
takes place in Athens, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev urged
Europe to tackle the causes, and not just the consequences of,
migration, Radev's press secretariat said in a press release
Friday.

"Europe is still focused mainly on the consequences, rather than
 on the causes, of migration. While the EU is still busy with
reacting to the changes in the security environment, the other
strategic players change this environment in their favour,
leaving Europe to deal with the migratory pressure," Radev said.
 He went on to note that Europe needs higher ambitions in the
area of security, a comprehensive approach of situational
awareness, predictability, fast decision-making and new flexible
 mechanisms for implementation of decisions. The Bulgarian head
of State said that the EU needs an operational plan for the
protection of its external borders, in particular, the land
borders, in the event of a new major migratory flow.

Radev again urged for strengthening the protection of the EU
external borders, reforming the Dublin Agreement and the
European policy for asylum.

Radev called for even distribution of the research and
educational infrastructure in Europe as a factor for national
economic growth. In his words, the success of the EU Cohesion
Policy for Bulgaria will be proved if young people opt out of
emigrating and instead choose to find their prospect for
development in Bulgaria.

Attending the Arraiolos Group summit are the presidents of
Greece, Croatia, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,
Latvia, Malta, Poland, Portugakl and Slovenia. RY/ZH

/СН/