“Europe is contenting itself with the role of observer of world processes. While several member countries are actively involved in them, the EU as a whole is not,” said Vice President Iliana Yotova at the Europe and the World conference, as she addressed university students from the Specialized Administration and Management Institute of the Francophonie. For lack of leadership, in light of the tension in the Balkans, between Ukraine and Russia, between NATO and Russia, Europe has not been able to address the natural fears of its citizens, she stated

“The task Europeans face is to reshape our defence and foreign policy from words to deeds,” Iliana Yotva said. The Bulgarian Vice President believes that the enlargement of the EU is the road towards preserving the European values.