site.bta Bulgaria, UK to Streamline EU Presidency Expenditures

Bulgaria, UK to Streamline EU Presidency Expenditures

London/Sofia, March 9 (BTA) - Meeting in London on Wednesday, Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva and British Minister of State for Europe David Lidington agreed to streamline expenditures for the upcoming EU trio (UK-Bulgaria-Estonia) presidency by rallying behind joint initiatives.

Measures include using web-based technologies, joint projects, campaigns and cultural programmes to promote the presidency and the EU agenda among the citizens of the three countries.

Kuneva and Lidington discussed the possible involvement of leading nongovernmental organizations in setting up the priorities.

Earlier, Kuneva met with UK Independent Anti-slavery Commissioner Kevin Hyland to discuss ways to step up cooperation between Bulgarian and British law enforcement agencies bilaterally and within Europol and Eurojust.

Kuneva conferred with Minister Matthew Hancock and the UK Government Anti-Corruption Champion, Eric Pickles late on Tuesday to discuss the opportunities for cooperation between Bulgaria and Britain in anti-corruption policies.

Kuneva presented the draft legislation for preventing corruption among high-level public officials, adding that additional legislative changes provide for enhancing the role of inspectorates in preventing and identifying corruption among the mid-level administration. Anti-corruption education was also discussed.

Kuneva and Hancock also discussed the upcoming UK-Estonia-Bulgaria Trio Presidency of the EU in 2017-2018. The Deputy Prime Minister commented that migration and security will continue to have a leading role among the Trio Presidency's priorities.

The forthcoming referendum in Britain about the country's EU membership was also discussed. Minister Hancock thanked for Bulgaria's constructive position, and on her part, Kuneva voiced hope that the British citizens will decide in favour of a stronger European Union. Great Britain is an integral part of the EU and remaining part of it is exceptionally important for the Union's economy and political weight, she noted.

Later on Tuesday, Kuneva took part in a conference about the challenges before the EU at London's Europe House.