On Thursday, the traditional annual meeting of Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov with Bulgarian ambassadors across the world was held in Sofia and was characterized by an unusual visit. For the first time a special guest of the meeting was the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini. She brought Bulgarian diplomats new messages related to the European strategy for foreign and security policy. Mogherini later reiterated the messages to EU Members at an international conference, entitled "The European Union in a Changing Global Environment."

Referring to two disturbing trends in the current international environment, namely increased migratory pressures at the external borders of the European Union and the Ukrainian crisis, Mogherini said that Bulgaria was at a crossroads, not only because of its geographical position, but also in terms of these two challenges. "These are challenges for the whole of the EU," she added. According to Mogherini, "today more than ever, Europe must stay united and strong, because no Member State is big and strong enough to meet these challenges alone."

Mogherini did not forget to thank the Bulgarian authorities for their decision to accept 500 migrants out of the 32 thousand located in Italy and Greece and waiting to be moved to other EU countries. In relation to this she said the EU was founded on the values ​​of solidarity. This message sounded also as a reproach to member states that categorically refused to accept even one of these migrants. It is yet another question if the decision of Bulgarian authorities was adequate keeping in mind the fact that Bulgaria has an external EU border and is under strong migratory pressure. It also does not have much experience with refugees.

In relation to the events in Ukraine, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy called on all EU countries to work together to overcome the crisis because "no one was interested in Russia remaining isolated." Mogherini made it clear that the EU's decision to continue sanctions against Moscow for another six months was not enough and it was necessary to work for the start of negotiations between the countries.

At the backdrop of the announced by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker "moratorium" on EU enlargement, Mogherini’s message that "the European Union will not be complete without the accession of the Western Balkans."

Federica Mogherini used her visit to Bulgaria to meet with Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, Parliament Speaker Tsetska Tsacheva and President Rossen Plevneliev. During the talks some of the issues discussed were the long awaited accession of Bulgaria to the Schengen area, regional cooperation and energy security of the country.