site.btaBulgarian Justice Minister Meets Austrian Counterpart

Vienna, August 25 (BTA) - Bulgarian Justice Minister Tsetska Tsacheva met Friday with Austrian Vice Chancellor and Justice Minister Wolfgang Brandstetter during her two-day working visit to Austria, her Ministry said in a press release.

Estonia, Bulgaria and Austria are in the Trio of countries holding the rotating EU Presidency in the second half of 2017 and the first and second half of 2018.

Tsacheva voiced satisfaction with the expert cooperation and exchange of experience in the preparation of the Bulgarian agenda of the EU Presidency during expert meetings in Tallinn and Sofia. She recalled that a draft programme for the Bulgarian Presidency was approved in mid-July and is expected to be conclusively adopted at the end of the year.

Minister Brandstetter said he is aware of the progress Bulgaria has made in recent years and believes that this country needs to be supported. He also said his country will continue to support the efforts of Bulgaria in all areas.

Among the highlights of the talks were the conditions in prisons and the transfer of sentenced persons.

Tsacheva and Brandtstetter visited Korneuburg Prison near Vienna.

The Austrian Justice Minister accepted Tsacheva's invitation to attend two conferences which the Justice Ministry is planning for the six months of the Bulgarian Presidency.