At a meeting with Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin last week, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov promised to make an effort to “normalize” relations between the EU and Turkey by falling back on his good contacts in government circles in that country. Yesterday Borissov paid a visit to Ankara which by far exceeded bilateral expectations. Not just because of the promise made in Berlin, but also because very soon, at the beginning of 2018, Bulgaria will be taking over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The talks Borissov had with Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım and with President Recep Erdogan came as confirmation that he really is well received in Bulgaria’s southern neighbor.

“I know your personal contribution to Turkey's association in the EU,” said Binali Yıldırım of Borissov and added he appreciated the fact that, unlike other European countries, Bulgaria had given an adequate response to the attempted coup and to the referendum in Turkey. On his part, President Erdogan held talks with the Bulgarian prime minister that lasted three whole hours. But as Borissov himself admitted prior to the visit, this show of goodwill is not in itself enough for carrying through the good intentions of normalizing the dialogue between Ankara and Brussels.

Indeed, Turkey has formulated demands that are difficult to meet. Prime Minister Yıldırım is demanding the abolition of the EU’s visa regime towards Turkey during Bulgaria’s rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, as well as the tangible advancement of Ankara’s EU accession negotiations. Borissov, who is fully aware what sentiments are predominant within the EU at this time, commented that he cannot promise Turkey membership of the EU, adding that everything is in the hands of Ankara itself. But Borissov also expressed optimism that in view of membership for the entire Southern flank of NATO, the important mutual benefits and the customs agreements, a normalization in relations is possible and that many of his counterparts in Europe agree. As Borissov puts it, what is most important at this point is for the EU and Turkey to go back to a civilized tone of voice and tolerance.

Borissov’s restraint regarding Ankara’s demands has not cast a shadow over bilateral relations, as indicated by the fact that he reached accord with President Erdogan on a bilateral agreement, between Bulgaria and Turkey, on the

readmission of illegal immigrants, if Turkey and the EU fail to conclude such an agreement. Though merely bilateral, such a document would benefit the entire EU because Bulgaria is its external border along the most troublesome migration route towards Western Europe via Turkey.

A week ago we commented that the talks Boyko Borissov had in Paris and in Berlin had sent an encouraging message to the third government he is prime minister of at the beginning of its term of office. Now the same can be said of his visit to Ankara.

English version: Milena Daynova