site.btaDeputy Foreign Minister Kraleva Participates in General Affairs Council in Luxembourg

Sofia, October 18 (BTA) - Deputy Foreign Minister Emilia Kraleva participated in the General Affairs Council meeting held in Luxembourg on Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry said.

The council continued with its preparations for the forthcoming October European Council which will focus on migration, Digital Europe, defence and external relations. In particular, leaders will take stock of the measures taken to stem illegal flows on all migration routes, decide on additional measures as required, and call for further progress on the reform of the Common European Asylum System towards an agreement. Defence issues will include a review of preparations undertaken for the launch of a permanent structured cooperation (PESCO). In the area of external relations, leaders are expected to discuss relations with Turkey and Iran, as well as the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

At the meeting of the General Affairs Council focused on Brexit, Bulgaria, in the context of Sofia's application to host the European Medicines Agency, underscored the importance of a balanced distribution of the seats of European agencies and that, without doubt, all EU Member States could host agencies on their territory, providing them with conditions to work up to the best international standards.

Regarding Brexit, Bulgaria noted the importance of guaranteeing the rights of EU citizens who have already settled in the UK and which are guaranteed by European law. The ministers agreed that sufficient progress to pass on to the second phase of talks on Brexit has not been made. Progress will be assessed again in December.