Van Rompuy: Political Situation in Bulgaria Worrying

European Council President Herman van Rompuy met Monday with former Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov to discuss EU affairs and the current situation in Bulgaria. Photo by GERB's press office

European Council President Herman van Rompuy met Monday with former Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov to discuss the current situation in Bulgaria.

"Despite the difficulties which the crisis bought to Europe, the European People's Party (EPP) must stick to its values. We must fight the populism of the left-wing and the nationalist formations in order to cope with the challenges of the economic and financial crisis," Rompuy said, as cited by the press office of GERB (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria).

Rompuy told Tsvetanov that he had become acquainted with the political situation in Bulgaria during the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius last week, adding that the state of affairs was "tense and worrying."

"I am closely following the situation in Bulgaria," he assured.

Tsvetanov, Deputy Chair of center-right party GERB, is on a visit to Brussels at the invitation of the governing body of the EPP. His visit was made possible after an alleviation of the ban on leaving the country imposed by the prosecuting authority over the ongoing trials against him.

Rompuy and Tsvetanov discussed the challenges related to the European Parliament elections in May 2014.

They agreed that populist movements deliberately incited a fear of globalization and EU integration in people, stressing that it was essential for pro-European parties to uphold their stances and government programs.

Rompuy pointed out that a shift from loan-based economies to competitiveness-based economies was necessary in order to achieve lasting growth over the next few years.

Tsvetanov and Rompuy drew attention to the consensus on the achievements of the EU despite the populism and Euro-skepticism, adding that the European economy had registered growth as a result and an increase in employment was expected n 2014.

Rompuy cited Spain's center-right government as a positive example, stressing that the Cabinet had managed to stand by its policy amid the difficulties created by the crisis and get the country back on the path of economic growth.

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