European Commissioner Warns of Looming Labor Shortage, Calls for Increased Migration
European Commissioner for Internal Affairs, Ylva Johansson, has highlighted the pressing need for increased labor migration in the European Union
Bulgaria's President Rosen Plevneliev urged political parties to engage in a constructive dialogue during the European elections campaign, which began on Friday.
"I call on all candidates to conduct a meaningful and qualitative debate for the European Parliament elections. The Bulgarian people deserve this, instead of a smear campaign as it has been in the past", Plevneliev said in his address.
According to the head of state, these elections may turn out to be the most important in the history of the European Union and determine its future course.
"We must ask ourselves the question, where do we want to be 5 years from now. Bulgaria must be an active participant in the European debate, rather than a passive onlooker", Plevneliev affirmed.
The President added that politicians should be realistic in what promises they make. They must also be more attentive in listening to what exactly the Bulgarian people want from them as representatives to Brussels.
The challenge ahead of the European Union is to make sure it does not split into a core and periphery, Plevneliev stressed.
About 1 200 000 "phantom voters" can be found in Bulgarian elections lists, Mihail Konstantinov, formerly a high-profile official in charge of elections, believes.
Bulgaria's Central Electoral Commission (CEC) starts receiving documents for the registration of political parties and coalitions for the early elections on October 5.
A majority in the European Parliament has approved Jean-Claude Juncker to be President of the European Commission, reports BBC.
The European Parliament is expected to approve on Tuesday the nomination of former Luxembourg PM Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the European Commission.
Former Environment Minister Iskra Mihaylova has become the nomination of the European Parliament's ALDE group to chair the Regional Policy Committee.
The European Parliament has re-elected Martin Schulz for a second presidential term, with 409 votes from the 751 MEPs.