Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev held meetings in London on Monday during a one-day working visit to the United Kingdom, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said.
Georgiev met with Karen Pierce, the UK’s Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, and with members of the newly established Parliamentary Friendship Group with Bulgaria.
The talks reaffirmed shared priorities between Sofia and London regarding stability and the European Union integration prospects of the Western Balkans. “European integration is the only viable path to peace and prosperity in the region,” Georgiev said, adding that Bulgaria remains one of the most active proponents of deepened Western engagement in the Balkans, particularly in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Georgiev voiced concern over rising vulnerabilities in the region and stressed that the EU accession process must be based on merit. “Accelerating integration cannot come at the expense of this principle,” he said.
In a separate meeting at the British Parliament, held at the invitation of Friendship Group head James Asser and deputy head Lord Philip Smith, Georgiev highlighted strong bilateral ties and the significance of the October 2023 bilateral agreement and the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership.
He called for enhanced parliamentary dialogue and thanked UK lawmakers for supporting Bulgaria’s community in the country — now the fifth-largest foreign-born group in Britain.
Talks also covered domestic security issues, including the fight against illegal migration and organised crime. “We highly appreciate the UK’s cooperation and its contribution to capacity building through training and specialised equipment,” Georgiev said.