Deputy Minister Emilia Kraleva participated in a General Affairs Council
17 October 2017 News
Deputy Minister Emilia Kraleva participated in a regular meeting of the General Affairs Council held in Luxembourg today. The Council continued with its preparations for the forthcoming October European Council, which will assess progress on the comprehensive approach to migration.
At the summit, EU leaders will assess the results achieved, stressing the need to remain vigilant on all migration routes and to implement readmission agreements with third countries more effectively.
On another key topic, Digital Europe, leaders will look at how the EU can best meet the challenges and use the opportunities presented by the digital revolution in all its dimensions.
In the defence sector, the European Council will reiterate its resolve to work for progress on all aspects of the common defence programme, including through the establishment of a permanent structured cooperation (PESCO) before the end of 2017. Leaders will discuss the EU’s relations with Turkey, Iran, and the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
“The only way to tackle the migration crisis is through a holistic approach based on the principle of shared responsibility and solidarity among Member States,” Deputy Minister Kraleva said in her statement. She stressed the need to continue to follow closely developments along all migration routes.
At the General Affairs Council session on Brexit, Bulgaria, in the context of Sofia’s application to host the European Medicines Agency, stressed the importance of a balanced geographical distribution of the EU agencies’ headquarters and that all EU Member States could undoubtedly host agencies on their territory, providing them with working conditions up to the best international standards.
Regarding the Brexit negotiations, Bulgaria noted the importance of guaranteeing the rights of EU citizens who have already settled in Britain, the way these rights are defined by EU law. Ministers agreed that no sufficient progress had been achieved so as to proceed with the second phase of the Brexit negotiations. Progress will be reassessed in December.