Bulgaria to start talks on possible purchase of Swedish Gripen fighter jets

The Bulgarian government will begin negotiations for the purchase of Swedish Gripen fighter jets. This was announced in Brussels by Prime Minister Boyko Borissov after meeting with his Swedish counterpart Stefan Löfven within a European Council meetingon 23^rd of June.

Borissov also said, that he wanted to tie the deal with commitments for Swedish investments in Bulgaria.

Earlier on 23^rd of July, the Prime Ministers of Estonia, Bulgaria and Austria accepted the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the next 18 months. Estonia will take the presidency first on July 1, 2017, followed by Bulgaria on January 1, 2018 and Austria on July 1, 2018.

Estonia, Bulgaria and Austria have approved the joint programme outlining their presidency trio’s priorities.

Economic growth, migration and security, and Western Balkans are among the main priorities in Bulgaria’s programme.

The presidency of the Council rotates among the EU member states every 6 months. During this 6-month period, the presidency chairs meetings at every level in the Council, helping to ensure the continuity of the EU's work in the Council.

Member states holding the presidency work together closely in groups of three, called 'trios'. The “trio presidency” system was introduced by the Lisbon Treaty in 2009. The trio sets long-term goals and prepares a common agenda determining the topics and major issues that will be addressed by the Council over an 18 month period. On the basis of this programme, each of the three countries prepares its own more detailed 6-month programme.