Bulgarian Presidency priorities discussed in committees

The priorities of the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers are being outlined to parliamentary committees by ministers in a series of meetings.

Bulgaria is holding the Presidency of the Council for the first time. It will last until end of June 2018.

Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs: EU Asylum System, Public Prosecutor

Developing the recently agreed European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and fostering its potential synergies with other EU bodies such as Europol, Eurojust and OLAF will be a priority, Justice Minister Tsetska explained Tsacheva on 11 January.

Interior Minister Valentin Radev said the Presidency will try to advance towards completing the reform of the Common European Asylum System and that he trusts “we can find a solution to Dublin”. On security, he cited border strengthening, enhanced information exchange and preventing radicalisation as key factors.

International trade: talks with Australia and New Zealand, foreign direct investment

Strengthening the EU’s leading role, by, for example, concluding a trade deal with Mercosur states as well as launching talks with Australia and New Zealand are among the priorities, said Economy Minister Emil Karanikolov on 22 January. The Presidency also aims to make progress on the screening of foreign direct investment (FDI) and the export control of dual-use items.

Welcoming this agenda, some MEPs hoped for visible progress in EU trade deals, especially with Singapore and Vietnam, and that the Council would swiftly agree a position on FDI screening, dual-use goods and international public procurement. They also called for full disclosure of the EU negotiating mandates.

Internal Market: boosting the free movement of goods and services in a digital world

The Presidency aims to tackle remaining barriers to the free movement of goods and services, in line with the Single Market and the Digital Single Market strategies, said Economy Minister Emil Karanikolov, on 23 January. The Presidency will oversee three-way talks among MEPs, ministers and EU Commission officials on, for instance, contract rules for digital content, sales of tangible goods and fertilisers, he added.

Transport, Information, Technology and Communications Minister Ivaylo Moskovski stressed the need to improve digital skills, ensure the free flow of data, and boost the use of digital public services. The Presidency aims to conclude talks with MEPs, ministers and the EU Commission on the European Accessibility Act and have the Council approve a general approach on the proposed Cybersecurity Act, he told MEPs.

Foreign Affairs: bringing Western Balkans closer to the EU

EU-related reforms and connectivity of the six Western Balkan countries wishing to join the EU will be at the core of Presidency’s work, Foreign Affairs Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva told the Foreign Affairs Committee on 23 January. The EU Commission’s new EU enlargement strategy “should be inclusive and give an EU perspective to all Western Balkan countries", she added. MEPs underlined that they expect further concrete steps, i.e. the opening of negotiating chapters.

Bulgaria will also have a close look at the EU’s next long-run budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). "This important instrument is a matter of security and stability for the EU. If in the next MFF we don't see Instrument for the Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) or Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), there will be no enlargement", she added.

Culture, Education, Youth and Sport: more inclusive European Youth programmes, better legislation in the audiovisual field

In the education field, the Presidency will focus on increasing funds for the Erasmus+ programme and trying to make it more inclusive. A better quality and a more inclusive school environment, recognition of qualifications, digital skills and greater use of digital technologies in education are also key priorities, Education and Science Minister Krasimir Valchev told MEPs on 23 January.

Finalising negotiations and striking a balanced agreement on the audiovisual media services directive and the European Solidarity Corps legislation are also high priorities, stressed Deputy Minister of Culture Amelia Gesheva and Youth and Sport Minister Krasen Kralev.

Agriculture: reforming EU farming policy and funding

Pursuing debate on ways to modernise and simplify the EU’s farming policy for after 2020 and the EU’s future long-term budget are key priorities, Agriculture Minister Rumen Porodzanov told Agriculture Committee MEPs on 23 January. The Presidency also wants to start work on the EU law against unfair trading practices in the food chain, once tabled, and pursue talks on the medicated food regulation, he added.

MEPs stressed that a call for more subsidiarity in the CAP must not lead to a re-nationalisation of the oldest EU policy, as this could disrupt the functioning of the single market, and insisted that the future CAP must be well-funded to deliver. They also raised discussed the likely impact of Brexit on farmers.

Transport and tourism: mobility package, aviation, posting of drivers

The Presidency will aim to make progress on the “mobility” package of road transport proposals, said Transport Minister Ivaylo Moskovski on 23 January. On the proposal for safeguarding competition in air transport, the Presidency also aims to create a legislative instrument to protect aviation from unfair practices by third countries, while not reducing connectivity within the EU and with the other countries.

MEPs quizzed Mr Moskovski on what the Presidency intends to do with the proposals on cabotage, posting of drivers, infrastructure charging and bus and coach transport. They also asked him how eco-friendly transport could be promoted and whether the Presidency would support the creation of a European agency for road transport.