Bulgaria has taken over the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) for the first time since it joined the EU in 2007, choosing “United We Stand Strong”, the motto of the National Assembly and of the Coat of Arms of the Republic of Bulgaria, as the slogan for the presidency.

According to the website of the Bulgarian presidency, Sofia prioritizes four key areas in its six-month term: future of Europe and young people, Western Balkans, security and stability, and digital economy.

Regarding Sport, the Bulgarian Presidency will focus on the promotion of European values through sport, the fight against doping and the use of “sport for all” as a tool for social inclusion.

To start with, next 12 January, at the National Palace of Culture in Sofia, the College of EU Commissioners (28 European Commissioners, one for each member state, who are each responsible for one or several policy areas) and the ministers of the Bulgarian government will have a joint session on topics related to the Bulgarian Presidency’s priorities and the European Agenda.

A plenary session will take place with the participation of Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, where the results of the discussions will be presented.

Malta and Estonia in turn held the six-month rotating presidency in 2017, whilst it will pass to Austria for this year’s second semester.