In power in Sofia for three months at the head of a very diverse coalition, Kiril Petkov, 41, who studied at the American University of Harvard, displays a reformist and pro-European program. Present at the Versailles European Council on Friday March 11, he is pleased that the Twenty-Seven have managed to display their unity regarding the war in Ukraine. He received The world at the Bulgarian Embassy in Paris.
What impression did this Versailles European Council, organized in the midst of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, leave on you?
There was a certain sadness to see that we were there, in the XXIand century, in this historic place, again talking about the war in Europe, about soldiers, about the number of victims, in this same room where treaties were negotiated after the first world war. But something positive is coming out of this crisis: it has led us to place unity above all our differences, to confront our weaknesses, particularly in the areas of energy and defence. And, finally, Europe welcomes refugees by looking positively at them.
Are you satisfied with the compromise you reached on Ukraine’s application for membership of the European Union?
What is very positive is that we spoke with one voice. We were all very aware of one point: we had to come out of this summit united. Do not allow ourselves to be weakened by divisions. Twenty-seven of us said to Ukraine that there was a way for her to integrate, as a member of the family; personally, I was in favor of a more precise wording. But I’m glad we included Moldova in the statement. Moldova is not in a very enviable situation. It is neither a member of NATO nor of the EU, it has Russian troops on its soil, and in two weeks it has taken in a number of Ukrainian refugees equivalent to 4% of its population. So we have to show that we support it. No one knows how far Putin will go: it is better to show that we are linked before rather than after the fact.
Is the prospect of enlargement for these three countries likely to have an impact on the candidate countries of the Western Balkans?
No, because for us, the Western Balkans are a clear priority. With the war in Ukraine, we must reaffirm this process, clearly state that each country has the right to choose its destiny. The days of drawing the map of Europe on a tablecloth with its spheres of influence must be over.
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