site.btaPM to Attend Special European Council Meeting on February 1

Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov will take part in a Special European Council meeting in Brussels on February 1, 2024, the government information service said on Wednesday. The participants in the meeting are expected to review and reinforce the EU’s long-term budget for 2021-2027 in the face of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic impact, and rising interest rates.

EU leaders will discuss the creation of a new support mechanism for Ukraine with a budget of EUR 50 billion and the strategic technologies for Europe platform (STEP) aimed at making Europe more competitive.

In Brussels, the Bulgarian Prime Minister will confer with Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo. The main topics of discussion are expected to include Bulgaria's accession to the euro area, the lifting of land border controls, and the strategic priorities for the European Union in the context of the new geopolitical and economic challenges, the press release said.