SOFIA, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Differences within the European Union (EU) have become increasingly visible and making compromises more difficult, Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva said here on Tuesday.
Zaharieva, who made the remarks at a discussion on the beginning of Finland's six-month rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU, said she was confident in its success.
Finland took over the rotating EU presidency in a "not very easy period," said Zaharieva, who is also Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria.
During Finland's presidency in the second half of this year, the transition from the old European Commission to the new one should be made, Zaharieva said.
Meanwhile, unfortunately, it seemed increasingly difficult to achieve compromises, especially on priorities and European policies where differences between the North and the South, the East and the West, the new and the old EU member states, the small and the big, were more and more glaring, Zaharieva said.
This division certainly does not help make the EU stronger, she said.
Unfortunately, the differences within the European Council have become more visible to the other partners, to the other continents, to the neighboring countries, Zaharieva added.
Nontheless, Zaharieva said she was confident that the Finns, who are known for their Nordic pragmatism, strategic vision, dedication to the European ideas and ability to achieve compromises, can be successful.
