site.btaBulgaria Wants US Visas for Its Citizens to Be on Agenda of Negotiations on EU-US Free Trade Agreement

Bulgaria Wants US Visas for Its Citizens to Be
on Agenda of Negotiations on EU-US
Free Trade Agreement


Sofia, November 26 (BTA) - "Bulgaria's official position
regarding the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
(TTIP) between the European Union and the United States is that
the visa requirements for Bulgarian citizens travelling to the
US should be considered, among other things, during the
negotiating process," the Bulgarian Ministry of Economy said in
a press release on Wednesday.

The same position was expressed by Bulgarian Economy Minister
Bozhidar Loukarski at a news conference here on Wednesday. TTIP
figured high on the agenda of a meeting of the EU Foreign
Affairs Council on trade issues that took place in Brussels last
week.

"The visa requirements are a particular request that Bulgaria
stated in its position during the Council meeting," Loukarski
pointed out, quoted in his Ministry's press release. He was
categorical that the Bulgarian Government insists that this
issue be considered during the negotiations, but the country
does not set it as a condition.

"The EU must keep its rigorous standards with regard to the
goods that would be imported from the US," the Economy Minister
also argued. PK/LG

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