site.btaEstonia, Bulgaria and Austria to Sign EU Presidency Trio's Programme on June 23

Estonia, Bulgaria and Austria
to Sign EU Presidency Trio's
Programme on June 23


Sofia, May 31 (BTA) - The programme of the EU Presidency Trio of Estonia, Bulgaria and Austria will be signed officially on June 23. This transpired on Wednesday after the latest round of consultations between the three countries which will preside over the Council of the European Union successively between July 2017 and December 2018.

The meeting was held in Sofia at the invitation of Liliyana Pavlova, the Minister for the Bulgarian EU Presidency (January-June 2018). It was also attended by officials from the General Secretariat of the EU Council, Pavlova's ministry reported.

The participants in the discussion confirmed the final version of the EU Council programme for the 18-month period of the Trio. The main highlights of the programme are: a Union of jobs, growth, and competitiveness (with a focus on the single market, entrepreneurship and the creation of jobs, maintaining a sustainable environment, investing in the future, and working for the Economic and Monetary Union); a Union protecting all its citizens (with a focus on the social dimension, particularly the European Pillar of Social Rights, equal treatment and non-discrimination, social justice, and the fight against poverty and social exclusion); gender equality; modernization of learning, while recognizing the role of teachers and school leaders; an Energy Union with a future-oriented climate policy; a Union of freedom, security and justice, and the Union as a powerful factor on the world stage (with a focus on implementing the EU Global Strategy); migration; enlargement and the Western Balkans; stabilizing the regions neighbouring the EU; enhancing cooperation beyond the regions neighbouring the EU; and a policy of cooperation and development, and trade.

The programme is pending approval by the EU General Affairs Council on June 20 before it is signed by the prime ministers of Estonia, Bulgaria and Austria during a European Council meeting on June 23. PK/VE
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