Germany will back Bulgaria for its EU Presidency in 2018

In the end of January the Bulgarian Interior Minister met with the German Internal Affairs Minister Thomas de Maizière. The meeting was part of the informal Justice and Home Affairs Council held which was organized in Riga, Latvia. The talks were organized in a constructive and open atmosphere, during which the cooperation between the two countries in the field of the home affairs was highly evaluated. The two countries evaluated their cooperation highly and expressed their readiness in the strengthening of that cooperation.

Germany stated that it will back up Bulgaria in its preparation for the EU Presidency planned in 2018. The Bulgarian minister informed the German Internal Affairs Minister about the current political situation in Bulgaria and which actions are to be taken in terms of the reform in the security sector and the judicial system. The Bulgarian government was encouraged by the Minister Maizière to continue with the reforms that are going on in order to achieve concrete measures that will bring visible results. The two ministers also discussed the Schengen bid of Bulgaria and the migration pressure. The German minister was also invited by his counterpart to visit Bulgaria.