site.btaEC Presents Assessment on Bulgaria's Bid to Host European Labour Authority

105 POLITICS - EU LABOUR AUTHORITY - BULGARIA

EC Presents Assessment
on Bulgaria's Bid
to Host European Labour Authority


Brussels, May 29 (BTA Correspondent Nikolay Jeliazkov) - The European Commission (EC) presented on Wednesday its assessment on the four offers to host the seat of the future European Labour Authority (ELA). Bulgaria is among the four EU countries that have sent bids to host the ELA. The competing cities are Sofia, Nicosia (Cyprus), Riga (Latvia) and Bratislava (Slovakia). The EC's assessment was requested by the Council of the EU, which will make the final decision.

The Commission assesses whether the candidates meet the preliminary criteria without making recommendations or rankings. The document about Bulgaria notes that this country does not currently host any EU agencies.

The EC notes that Sofia is ready to provide three buildings, which are available before ELA starts working, which is scheduled for next January. The EC finds that Bulgaria's offer meets the set requirements. Sofia is ready to cover rent and maintenance costs for a period of 18 months, if one of the three offered buildings is selected. Among the reviewed criteria are living conditions for agency staff and their families, accessibility of the location, education facilities for the children of the agency staff, access to the labour market, social security and medical care for employees' spouses and children.

The representatives of the member states will vote to fix the seat of the ELA in the margins of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, on 13 June 2019. IG/MY
/МЙ/