site.btaForeign Minister Zaharieva Acquaints Ambassadors of Bulgarian EU Presidency's Priorities

Sofia, October 4 (BTA) - At a working meeting at the Foreign Ministry on Friday, Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva acquainted the ambassadors of EU Member States to Bulgaria with her country's priorities for the forthcoming Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council and its strategic positions on global matters, such as the future of Europe, Zaharieva's ministry reported.

Zaharieva told the ambassadors that the EU prospect of the Western Balkan countries is a key priority of the Bulgarian EU Presidency, as evidenced by the EU-Western Balkans Summit included in the country's programme for the Presidency. This would be the first forum of its kind since the 2003 meeting in Thessaloniki, she added.

In an informal setting, Zaharieva and the EU ambassadors also discussed Bulgaria's views for the forthcoming debate on the EU's Multiannual Financial Framework and cohesion policy, this country's expectations for the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism, as well as proposals for the cohesion funds to be made dependent on judicial reforms.

The meeting was also attended by the ambassadors of Norway and Switzerland as well as the European Commission Representative in Bulgaria, the Foreign Ministry said.