site.btaBulgarian Ambassador in London Meets with Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee of UK Parliament

Bulgaria's Ambassador Tihomir Stoytchev has met with Emily Thornberry MP, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Commons, the Bulgarian Embassy in London said on its website. The meeting was attended by Sir John Whittingdale, the Conservative MP for Maldon, and Phil Brickell, the Labour MP for Bolton West.

The sides emphasized the active relations between Bulgaria and the UK across a broad range of areas of mutual interest, with particular emphasis on cooperation in justice and home affairs, security and defence, education, culture and tourism. They expressed satisfaction with the visit of the British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, David Lammy, to Sofia earlier this year. During the visit, Lammy and Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev launched a global campaign to promote family-based care for children in need worldwide. Bulgaria was chosen as the country to launch the initiative due to the significant progress achieved in reforming social care, the Embassy said.

Special attention was drawn to partnership in the area of home affairs. Ambassador Stoytchev underscored the excellent cooperation in combating illegal migration and Bulgaria's role in dismantling the supply chains for small boats used in illicit crossings of the English Channel.

The two countries have established good cooperation in combating disinformation. In recent years, numerous trainings aimed at knowledge exchange and capacity building have been held.

Ambassador Stoytchev talked about the steps taken towards establishing an APPG Group on Bulgaria in the British Parliament so as to strengthen parliamentary cooperation, said the Bulgarian Embassy.