Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva Takes Part in October Session of EU General Affair Council
18 November 2020 News
The EU General Affair Council held a meeting by video conference earlier today. Bulgaria was represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva, Justice Minister Desislava Ahladova, and Dimitar Tsanchev, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Bulgaria to the EU.
The German rotating Presidency briefed the Council on the current state of the negotiating framework with the Republic of North Macedonia and the Republic of Albania. „At this stage, Bulgaria is not in a position to support the proposed negotiating framework with the Republic of North Macedonia and the holding of an Intergovernmental Conference in December. The proposed draft negotiating framework does not reflect the Bulgarian demands and cannot be supported in its present form,“ Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva said. The condition of achieving tangible results in the implementation of the Treaty on Friendship. Good-Neighbourlines and Cooperation with the RNM, which was part of the conclusions of the European Council of March 2020, has not been met. „The EU would not be stronger if there are unresolved bilateral issues on its agenda,“ Zaharieva said. She briefed the European ministers on the bilateral talks between Sofia and Skopje and expressed appreciation for the efforts of the German Presidency of the European Council.
The talks on the new EU multiannual financial framework were among the top priority issues discussed by the Council. On 10 November 2020, the negotiating teams of the German Presidency and the European Parliament reached a political agreement on the Multiannual Financial Framework and the Recovery Package, while several days earlier agreement had been reached on a Regulation that set conditions regarding the protection of the EU budget. The agreement is an important step toward finalizing the legislation on the Multiannual Financial Framework and the Recovery Package. The majority of the member states called for consensus in order to avoid delays of programs that are very important for the recovery of the EU. Bulgaria’s position is that it is very important for the EU to have the necessary financial instruments to help its economy and to meet the expectations of the Europeans against the backdrop of an unprecedented health and economic crisis.
The reports of the first five countries in the protocol order, including Bulgaria, were discussed within the framework of the Annual Review of Rule of Law in the EU The member-states shared information on good practices. The Minister of Justice Desislava Ahladova presented the Plan for implementation of measures adopted by the Government on November 4, 2020 in Response to the Conclusions in the European Commission Report of 30 September 2020 on four monitored areas - justice system, fundamental principles of rule of law, including judicial independence, media freedoms, anti-corruption measures and basic governmental checks-and-balances.
The Council also discussed the proposed agenda for the upcoming regular meeting of the European Council in December. The leaders of the Union will discuss the topics of COVID-19, climate, trade, security, and external relations.
The European Commission presented, in a public session, its working program for 2021. Priority will be given to the fundamental initiatives in the Green Deal and digitalization as well as actions directed at strengthening the EU’s resilience in key areas such as the pharmaceutical industry. The Program has six fundamental areas of action: 1. European Green Pact; 2. Europe, Fit for the Digital Age; 3. Economy in the Interest of the People; 4. A Stronger Europe in the World; 5. strengthening the European Way of Life, and 6. A New /impetus to European Democracy.
The Council also discussed the struggle against antisemitism. This topic was among the priorities of the German Presidency of the European Council. Bulgaria supports the European Commission’s intentions to present a European strategy for Combating Antisemitism. To achieve effectiveness in this sphere it would be necessary to have full cooperation and coordination between the member states and the respective Jewish non-governmental organisations, to hold information campaigns and conduct civic education.