site.btaHighlights of Upcoming Bulgarian EU Presidency Discussed at High-profile Event

Sofia, October 23 (BTA) - A discussion on the highlights of the upcoming Bulgarian EU Presidency was held at Sofia's House of Europe on Monday. The event, entitled "Bulgarian Ideas for Europe: Dialogue between the NGO Sector and the Government" was opened by the Minister for the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council in 2018, Liliyana Pavlova, who said that Bulgaria's EU Presidency should result in a more united, strong and digital Europe.

Pavlova listed the priorities of the Bulgarian Presidency of the European Council, noting that the presidency should serve as a cause of unification and not division of the country.

"Europe needs security, stability and solidarity, and we can contribute therein," Pavlova said.

Bulgarian ex-President Rosen Plevneliev (2012-2017) noted that the Bulgarian EU Presidency comes at a time of historical developments and that Bulgaria can and must contribute to the unity and future of the "unique EU family".

Plevneliev said that the Presidency in no case puts forward narrow national interests. He warned that any expectations of people in this country that the Presidency will solve such narrow national problems should be dispelled.

Plevneliev said that Bulgaria is ready to assume the Presidency and appealed for unity so that this country shows the best of its abilities.

In a video address to the forum Bulgarian European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society Mariya Gabriel noted that the future belongs to a secure and connected Europe with free movement of data, a common European digital market where entrepreneurship and imagination create new jobs and the economy grows. Gabriel spoke about cyber attacks, stressing that ensuring people's security and the security of their personal data is of key importance. Gabriel said that the fight against fake news is another element of this security, given that cyber attacks and fake news are both aimed against the common European values.