site.btaBulgarian Foreign Minister Zaharieva Expects EU to Remain United in Talks with Britain

Brussels, January 29 (BTA corr. Nikolau Jeliazkov) - Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva, who chairs this year's first meeting of the EU General Affairs Council, voiced a hope that the EU will keep its unity in the talks with Britain.

This is the first EU Council meeting in the EU-27 format during the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council. The EU's Chief Negotiator for Brexit, Michel Barnier, is to update the ministers on the state of play of the negotiations with the UK and the expectations about the coming months.

Zaharieva expressed certainty that the ministers will succeed in approving the guidelines. The transition period will involve full application of the EU legislation by Britain, without London participating in the institutions and the decision-making process, she said. The EU is expected to suggest a two-year transition period in effect until December 31, 2020.