Since January 1 we have taken the Presidency of the Council of the EU; for 11 years we have been a member of the EU; but since 13 centuries Bulgaria has been the southeastern gate of Europe. This was what Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said during the official opening ceremony of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

President Radev pointed out that as a people we knew the price of hatred and division, so the motto of the presidency was "Unity Makes Power".

Bulgaria is a symbol of mutual recognition of religions; Bulgaria catching up with its allies saved its Jews. All this makes me believe that we have given much and we can do much more for the future of the EU. Security is an important part of this. Competitiveness must be achieved through investments in education," President Radev pointed out.

In order for Europe to be understood, we need mutual understanding, the President added, and expressed confidence that in the next six months, all of Bulgaria's guests would feel at home among Roman ruins and Orthodox monuments.