site.btaElysee Treaty's 60th Anniversary Marked in Sofia

The 60th anniversary of the Elysee Treaty was marked in Sofia on Wednesday. The event was attended by Vice President Iliana Iotova and members of the diplomatic corps.

In her address, Iotova pointed out that Bulgaria has ideas for reforms of European institutions and the future of the EU. "We can actively engage in the discussion on the enlargement of the EU to the Western Balkans, as well as on the future changes in the functioning of the Schengen area. Schengen reform and enlargement with Bulgaria and Romania should go simultaneously, if nothing else, because of our experience as a country, which has an external border of the EU," she said.

The Vice President described the Elysee Treaty as one of the most important documents for the development not only of the Germany and France, but also for the consolidation of the EU. "It was signed between two countries considered eternal enemies, with the signatures of two great men, Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer - participants in the resistance against the Nazi regime, called to build bridges, rather than dig trenches, to build a new world of peace and security," Iotova said.

Iotova spoke about France and Germany's significant roles in the EU's most important decisions.

"Unfortunately, we are celebrating the 60th anniversary in the shadow of the war in Ukraine. Today, the context of the Cold War has returned with new force with Russia's aggression - brutal aggression against 'Never again!', the most important message of post-war Europe in the 20th century. Aggression that has set before us not only a new test, but the obligation to come out of this conflict even stronger, to bring peace back to Europe. There can be no compromise with the violations of international law, with the laws and rules that both our parents and we have been building for decades," the Vice President said.