Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary Svetlan Stoev attended an informal meeting in Budapest with the state secretaries and secretaries general of EU member states, on Thursday, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday. Hungary, set to take over the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU in July 2024, revealed its main priorities for the term, which will be formally presented in late June 2024.
Stoev discussed Bulgaria's integration into the Schengen area, emphasizing the need to secure a timeline for removing land border controls by the end of 2024. He also addressed support for Ukraine and highlighted the importance of the Black Sea region for EU security and sustainability. Stoev called for an EU strategy for the Black Sea and covered topics such as energy and migration policies, EU enlargement, and the need for progress based on individual merits and competitiveness.
The Hungarian presidency prioritizes enhancing the European Union's competitiveness and unity in foreign and security policy. It aims to enhance security, strengthen European defense capabilities, support the European industry, and address enlargement policy based on individual merits. The presidency will also tackle illegal migration, demographic challenges, the future development of Cohesion Policy and the Common Agricultural Policy, with an emphasis on supporting individual farmers, and protecting European cultural heritage.
In a statement on Thursday, EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson shared with journalists in Luxembourg that the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU prioritizes the lifting of Schengen land border controls for Bulgaria and Romania.
/MR/
news.modal.text
