Bulgaria’s Prime Minister is attending EU summit in Brussels

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Borissov on October 1 is in Brussels to take part in the European Union summit. The leaders of the 27 member states are discussing relations with Turkey and China, the situation in Belarus and Nagorno - Karabakh and the poisoning of Alexei Navalny.

On the first day of the summit, the focus is on foreign policy. The European leaders began the meeting with a debate on the relations with Turkey.

Upon entering, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov also commented on Bulgaria's geographical location and that the country is surrounded by conflicts. He said he hoped for a speedy resolution of the conflicts.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Bulgarian Prime Minister thanked Brussels for the "extremely objective" report.

Boyko Borissov, Prime Minister: I would like to thank the EC for the extremely objective report, which has taken into account the progress of Bulgaria, and has well described what we still need to do to be excellent in this direction. That is why we will firmly follow the recommendations of the Venice Commission, so that in general we will fulfill everything we have undertaken as a commitment in relation to the monitoring for Bulgaria, like all EU countries.

On the first day of discussions, European leaders discussed foreign policy issues such as relations with Russia following the poisoning of Alexei Navalny and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. They are also expected to take the long - delayed decision to impose sanctions on the Alexander Lukashenko regime.

Cyprus continues to link the issue of sanctions against Belarus to a request for sanctions against Turkey for illegal oil drilling in the Mediterranean, which has strained relations between Athens and Nicosia, on the one hand, and Ankara, on the other.

However, sanctions against Turkey are not expected.

Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor said that the German presidency would work to find a peaceful solution to the dispute between Turkey, Greece and Cyprus. We want to continue our constructive relations with Turkey. It is important to quell tensions through diplomacy, she said.

The European leaders are also expected to discuss relations with China. Tomorrow, the main topic is the EU's strategic autonomy, which includes strengthening the single market and accelerating the digital transformation.

At the same time, in the European Parliament, the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs discussed and voted on a draft resolution on Bulgaria. It will be the basis of the debate that will take place for the country on Monday in the EP.

It addresses all the issues mentioned in the Rule of Law Report. But new things are also mentioned, such as regretting that Bulgaria has not accepted the Istanbul Convention, that the situation in Bulgarian prisons is bad, as well as the treatment of people of different sexual orientations or the Roma. The resolution is very broad. Until Thursday, MEPs will be able to make adjustments to it, when the final vote in plenary is expected.

Images by BGNES

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