site.btaForeign Minister Takes Part in EU General Affairs Council, Meets with Brexit Negotiator

Brussels, November 20 (BTA) - Speaking at an EU General Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on Monday, Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva discussed European defence in the context of the joint notification on Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) which Bulgaria and 22 other EU member states signed on November 13. Zaharieva said that a year ago few people believed that PESCO could be launched so soon. "At the same time, however, further efforts are needed to deepen defence cooperation between the EU and NATO," Zaharieva added.

European defence in the context of the PESCO notification will be on the agenda of the upcoming European Council, the planning of which was discussed by Monday's General Affairs Council. The European Council will also review the results of the November 17 Social Summit in Gothenburg, during which a Proclamation of the European Pillar of Social Rights was signed.

Zaharieva said that after the successful Gothenburg Summit, the European Council should provide clear guidelines about how to ensure fair jobs and growth.

Bulgaria, which will hold the EU Presidency in the first half of 2018, supports the European Commission's ambitious 2018 Work Programme, Zaharieva said. The country sets priority on addressing migration and security issues, the reinforcement of the Economic and Monetary Union, the completion of the Banking Union and the minimization of risks in the banking sector. "We believe that the cohesion policy should retain its place in the EU budget beyond 2020 as it is an important instrument for sustainable development," Zaharieva argued. According to her, Bulgaria will build on the efforts of the current Estonian EU Presidency as regards Digital Europe.

According to an established practice, the Estonian and Bulgarian EU Presidencies presented a roadmap for the European Semester in 2018.

Later in the day, Zaharieva talked with Michel Barnier, the European Chief Negotiator for Brexit. The two looked at the course of the negotiations with the UK. Zaharieva said the most important things for Bulgaria in the first stage of the EU-UK talks are the rights of citizens and the settling of London's financial obligations to the bloc while honouring all commitments which have been assumed.

The two also discussed Barnier's upcoming visit to Sofia in December in the context of the planning of the Bulgarian EU Presidency.