19.12.2017
“On behalf of everyone, I hope that we will be able to achieve progress in the negotiations with Britain. The rights of Bulgarians who are already settled in the UK are guaranteed for life.” This was said by Prime Minister Boyko Borissov after his meeting with Michel Barnier, EU chief negotiator for the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union. “For the period after the ‘divorce’ we will negotiate subsequent conditions because we do not yet know the parameters of the Brexit,” the Bulgarian Prime Minister explained.
"The social, financial and economic stakes are very high in these negotiations. If Brexit does not happen in the right steps, there may be billions in damage and human destinies could be put at crossroads,” Borissov said. He expressed hope that balance would also be found on other topics, such as military cooperation and security. “Our intelligence services must work in full congruence on topics, such as terrorism, money laundering, and migration,” the Prime Minister said.
Michel Barnier highlighted that the Bulgarian Presidency will be extremely important for the Brexit negotiations. “We have completed the first stage of the negotiations with the United Kingdom and we have reached the agreement that the rights of European citizens in the UK and of UK citizens in the EU will be protected," Barnier said.
“The issue of Bulgarians' rights in the UK has been raised several times by your Prime Minister Boyko Borissov during the negotiations,” Barnier said. He also announced the agreement reached with the UK, which will become a treaty within a few months. It includes the right of Bulgarians to reside in the UK, to receive social services, the portability of social rights, and the right to reunite with their families. “This also applies to British nationals who have decided to live here in Bulgaria,” the chief negotiator added.
The Bulgarian Prime Minister said that Brexit will be difficult but he hopes for a common position in the upcoming months. “I hope very much that the United Kingdom would return to the EU,” added Boyko Borissov.
