Deputy Minister Petko Doykov Represented Bulgaria at the General Affairs Council (GAC) in Luxembourg
13 October 2020 News
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Petko Doykov took part in the regular October session of the General Affairs Council (GAC) in Luxembourg.
The discussion on the progress of negotiations with the United Kingdom was among the highlights of the agenda of the GAC. The Head of the EU Task Force and Chief Negotiator for Brexit Michel Barnier briefed the forum on the current status of negotiations for an Agreement to govern the future relations.
„Bulgaria lends full support to the efforts of the Task Force headed by Michel Barnier. We expect that the principle of non-discrimination and full reciprocity, including with respect to visa-free travel, be safeguarded,“ Petko Doykov pointed out.
The Council prepared the agenda for the session of the European Council on October 15-16, 2020. The main topics for discussion by European leaders included climate change, measures to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the relations with the United Kingdom and the EU-Africa cooperation. „We support the accomplishment of the objectives for climate neutrality by 2050. At the same time an even transition should be ensured, where the required balance between economic development and environment is preserved,“ Deputy Minister Doykov stressed.
The GAC adopted a recommendation on a coordinated approach to the restrictions of free movement in the EU in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It envisions coordination among member states, regular supply of information to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and common principles for temporary restriction of the right to free movement, when necessary. The objective is to undertake such measures with prior notice and while implementing a common system for relevant designation of individual states and regions according to statistical data on the spread.
„Bulgaria supports coordination of efforts to fight COVID-19 within the EU, taking into account national specifics and competencies. We express gratitude to the EU for the endeavour to provide vaccines for all European citizens. The focus should be on safety and efficacy of vaccines,“ Deputy Minister Doykov said.
The topics of the Council covered also the horizontal part of the annual Report of the EC on the Rule of Law in the EU. Updates on the status of negotiations with the European Parliament on the adoption of the Multiannual Financial Framework of the EU and the Recovery Package were given.
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