Minister Daniel Mitov participated in the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, which was held on June 20 in Luxembourg. Ministers discussed the migration crisis and the efforts to address its the root causes. Mitov said that it is essential for the EU to have a comprehensive and geographically balanced approach to migration. "Not a single region or route should escape our attention if we want to find a lasting solution to the current crisis," he said.

Minister Mitov pointed out that the migratory flow from Turkey to the Greek islands has decreased considerably after the March 18 EU-Turkey Statement.  There is still a serious risk that the migration route via the Western Balkans may be restored and new routes may be forged, because Turkey is failing to implement the readmission agreement with the EU, Daniel Mitov said.  He informed his EU counterparts on Turkey’s refusal to implement the agreement with regard to citizens of third countries and noted that the issue concerns not just the frontline states but all EU member states.

Foreign ministers discussed also the situation in the Sahel region and EU’s support for the countries of the region in the field of security, counter-terrorism, border management, as well as in the efforts to address the root causes of migration and migration pressure on the EU. The Council extended the mandate of the EUNAFOR MED Operation Sophia, the EU operation in the Southern Central Mediterranean. Along with the main task to destroy the business model of networks trafficking operation will help train Libyan coastguards and will monitor compliance with a UN-imposed arms embargo.

Ministers also exchanged opinions on the situation in the Republic of Macedonia and expressed deep concern about the ongoing political crisis in the country. They emphasized on the need to implement the 2015 Pržino agreement and the urgent reform priorities, expressing support for the work of the special prosecutor.

 “Normalizing the political situation in the Republic of Macedonia and maintaining good neighbourly relations are of primary importance for the stability of the entire region,” Minister Mitov said.  He pointed to the urgent need for the country's political leadership and civil society to engage in a dialogue to overcome the crisis. The first step to this end should be to set a date for parliamentary elections together with the opposition, he said.

The Council discussed visa liberalization in the context of EU-Georgia relations. Minister Mitov said that Georgia is one of the most ambitious Eastern Partnership countries and welcomed the fulfillment of all criteria for lifting the visa regulations. The abolition of the visa restrictions will give a strong impetus to Georgian reforms, he said.

The EU Foreign Ministers took stock of the current state of the Middle East peace process. They agreed that the EU in close coordination with the Quartet will continue to work with Israel and Palestine and all interested parties towards a two-state solution. In that context, the Council welcomed the Joint Communiqué on the Middle East peace initiative adopted at the Ministerial meeting in Paris on 3 June 2016. Minister Mitov said that Bulgaria supports the efforts to resume the Middle East peace talks in which the Quartet should play a leading role. He claimed that a definitive solution to the Middle East conflict can only be found through direct negotiations between Israel and Palestine.