DeHavilland EU Bulgaria Presidency Briefing January - June 2018 Welcome As of 1 January 2018, Bulgaria has taken over the Presidency of the Council of the EU from Estonia. Over the next six months, the Balkan nation will chair the meetings of the Council, mediate between the Council and Parliament, and help steer the direction of EU policy. This briefing gives a preview of what to expect from Bulgaria - its priorities, the major players, and the current European context the country must navigate. Keep reading to understand the Presidency's institutional role, to get a view from Brussels through exclusive interviews Key Documents with MEPs, to identify the key decision-makers during the next six months. This edition of our briefing also features Final Programme [link] in-depth policy analysis and further details on the Bulgarian Presidency's meetings and events. The Calendar [link] On the following page, Commissioner for Digital Economy and Trio Strategic Agenda [link] Society Mariya Gabriel introduces her country's Presidency. decisions on more security on the EU's external borders, more efficient migration Foreword management, laying the foundations of a by Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Defence Union; Digital Economy and Society • European prospects and connectivity of the Western Balkans: Bulgaria intends to In January 2018, a decade after its accession make the best use of its regional expertise to the EU, Bulgaria has taken over the ro- to support the Western Balkan states on tating Presidency of the Council of the Eu- their reform path to help bring the region ropean Union. It is a special moment which closer to our Union. The Presidency will symbolises how much of a leader Bulgaria work to provide more geopolitical and has become for our Union. economic support for the region by focus- ing on the things that matter: improving As President Juncker recently said: "Europe road, railway, air, digital, educational and is in Bulgaria's DNA. Since the very first day energy connectivity to the EU; Bulgaria joined the European Union, Bulgar- ia is behaving like a founding member of the • And finally, digital economy and skills European Union." for the future: The focus will be on com- pleting the EU Digital Single Market and This is perfectly encapsulated in the motto of the development of a digital economy the Bulgarian Presidency: "United We Stand and skills. This includes the cyber secu- Strong". This will be Europe's motto for the rity package, the copyright directive, the © European Union , 2017 / Source: EC - Audiovisual Service / next six months as Bulgaria becomes the Photo: Etienne Ansotte free flow of non-personal data, the e-com- capital of Europe. munications code, e-Privacy and the We have worked closely with the Bulgarian 2018 is a crucial year for Europe. So it is no Audiovisual Media Services Directive. government to prepare the Presidency. Pres- surprise that the list of priorities for the Bul- Under the Estonian Presidency we saw ident Juncker praised the state of prepara- garian Presidency is well filled: significant milestones on our way to creat- tions when the Bulgarian government visited ing the Digital Single Market. The Bulgarian the College on 8 November 2017. We were • Economic and social cohesion will be pri- also lucky to see this first hand as the Col- oritised with a focus on a new EU bud- Presidency will take up the mantle and I am delighted to see their full commitment to- lege travelled to Sofia for the official launch get, discussions on a new Cohesion and of the Presidency on 11 January. The next six Common Agricultural Policy, and steps wards achieving our digital ambitions. The future is digital and the future starts now so months will be a great challenge and a great towards a deeper Economic and Mone- honour for my home country. It is with pride tary Union; it is an important sign that all Member States and institutions agree that digital is at the and expectation that I look forward to seeing • Stability and security of Europe: common top of the EU's agenda. Bulgaria skilfully master this challenge. Back to menu 3 The Presidency Understand what it means and Bulgaria's priorities p. 5 The View from Brussels Place Bulgaria's priorities in the European political context p. 8 The Policy Gain insight for your sector p. 13 The Events Keep track of the key dates for the next six months p. 26 The People Meet the ministers who will chair the Council meetings p. 29 The Trio Find out who Bulgaria works alongside p. 38 The Interviews Understand the aims of co-legislators during the Presidency p. 40 The Presidency Understand what it means and Bulgaria’s priorities What is a Presidency? Member States take it in turn to hold the Presidency of the Council Presidency, and are of the EU, passing on the baton every six months but acting within often used to measure a Council Strategic Agenda Trios of countries. This is the first EU Presidency held by Bulgaria country’s success in the which joined the Union in 2007. The Council is co-legislator role. 1. Jobs, growth & competitiveness with the European Parliament, but has exclusive competence 2. Empowering & protecting all over sensitive areas, such as tax policy. The Council meets in ten The Presidency is crucial citizens configurations, divided by policy area, which the national ministers for EU policy making, but of the Presidency chair. For instance, the Environment Council the administrative burden 3. Energy union & future-oriented meetings are attended by national Environment Ministers and is significant, especially climate policy chaired by the Environment Minister of the rotating Presidency, in for smaller Member 4. Freedom, security, & justice this case, of Bulgaria. States. The advantages for the country holding the Presidency are therefore not obvious, particularly as it must be politically neutral. The Presidency acts as an honest broker, and the country cannot be seen as pushing its own agenda too hard. Therefore, the Trio of countries have an 18 month programme to follow with overarching aims that must be completed by the time the final country has finished holding the Presidency. Bulgaria takes over from Estonia, meaning it is the second country of the current Estonia-Bulgaria-Austria trio to lead the Council Commission VP Jyrki Katainen & Estonian Minister for Rural Affairs Tarmo Tamm. and its work. As the Bulgarian Presidency website states, the three © European Union, 2017 / Source: EC - Audiovisual Service countries have agreed “upon a positive programme focusing on security, strengthening the external borders of the EU, economic growth and competitiveness”. However, these aims are not The Presidency mediates between the Member States, and is exhaustive and, given that the received wisdom in European responsible for drawing up compromise texts. When agreement politics is seemingly to expect the unexpected, new developments is reached, the Presidency will represent the Council at ‘trilogue’ and challenges may need to be addressed as they appear - not least meetings with the Parliament and Commission. The informal those relating to the ongoing Brexit negotiations. agreements, which often represent the breakthrough on a legislative proposal, depend on the negotiating skills of the Back to menu 6 What are the priorities? The official motto of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the sees the Presidency as an opportunity to push for EU membership EU - “united we stand strong” - offers an immediate insight into for six Western Balkan states. Whilst reforms aimed at supporting what will, in large part, guide the direction of the Presidency. Like EU accession should be expected, in the more immediate future, that which preceded it, the Bulgarian Presidency will again seek to the Presidency will seek to improve connectivity between maintain unity between Member States and realise a “a stronger, the Western Balkans and the EU to allow for greater regional more secure and more solidary European Union”. cooperation. In more specific terms, the four main priorities of the Bulgarian Security and stability in a strong and united Europe Presidency are: the future of Europe and young people – economic growth and social cohesion; European perspective and connectivity In terms of security and migration policies, the Bulgarian of the Western Balkans; security and stability in a strong and united Presidency will seek to realise consensus amongst Member States Europe; digital economy and skills of the future. in addressing existing vulnerabilities. Its stated efforts will be in strengthening the EU’s external borders, better managing The future of Europe and young people migration processes, laying the foundations of a Defence Union, aiding information exchange, and working towards “efficient, fast Despite economies throughout the EU recovering of late, the and fair justice”. Bulgarian Presidency has declared that other long-standing structural challenges, like those of high debt levels and weak Digital economy and skills of the future pay growth, can best be tackled through Member States working together. To this end, and as part of its push for greater social One of the priorities of the Estonian Presidency was creating cohesion, Bulgaria will lead on the Multiannual Financial a “digital Europe” and, much in the same vein, the Bulgarian Framework beyond 2020, the Cohesion Policy beyond 2020, the Presidency will seek to complete the Digital Single Market and aid future of the Common Agricultural Policy, and deepening the the development of digital-related skills. In an effort to ensure the Economic and Monetary Union. European economy remains competitive, attention will be given to encouraging entrepreneurship and social innovation, and to European perspective and connectivity of the Western addressing the link between education and the needs of the future Balkans labour market. Even a quick glance at press releases related to the Bulgarian Presidency will reveal how much attention has been given to the Western Balkans.