Kristian Vigenin: Let us talk more about what the EU will propose for achieving peace in Ukraine

„A proposal was adopted to increase the funds for armament in the next financial framework of the European budget. Let us hope this will not be at the expense of funds for cohesion policy, social issues and education, because then the whole thing loses its meaning.” This was stated by the head of the Delegation of the Socialists in the European Parliament and member of the Executive Bureau of the BSP Kristian Vigenin on BG On Air. He added that despite the proposals adopted in one of the reports for extending qualified majority voting on foreign policy and defence matters, the Bulgarian Socialists are of the opinion that voting should remain by unanimity: „Even though it is harder, agreement should be sought, rather than decisions being imposed on the member states through a qualified majority.”

On the subject of the Recovery and Resilience Plan funds that Bulgaria is at risk of losing, Vigenin outlined two options: „One of the options is for these funds to be redirected to programmes for increasing defence capabilities. The second is to allow part of the unused funds to be redirected to cohesion or social policy projects, but the permission has to be given at European level.“

A plan for peace in Ukraine

Kristian Vigenin believes that the EU should propose a plan for peace in Ukraine. “There is no other way it can happen, without negotiations, without some pressure, without mediation. And we are not yet proposing anything of the sort, unlike the USA for example”, the MEP commented. He explained that the Bulgarian Socialists are quite reserved about the belligerent language regarding the war in Ukraine. „We would like there to be more and more talk about the scenarios the EU is proposing for peace. There was a proposal from the left for the Union to come forward with a diplomatic initiative for peace in Ukraine, but it was not adopted. I would very much like that, if we insist the European Union should be at the peace negotiating table, there should be an idea of how that is to happen. I was not able to take part in the debate with Ms Kaja Kallas, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs, as time was limited. But I wanted to ask her what our views on peace are, whether there is a team developing the scenarios, and who will represent us. I want to see the readiness of the European Union. We cannot just talk without something real on the table“, Kristian Vigenin commented.