European Commission congratulated Bulgaria on the EU Presidency's achievements

In a letter to the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Bulgaria to the European Union, the Secretary-General of the European Commission Martin Selmayr says he is strrongly impressed by the achievements during the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2018, the press office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on 4^th of September.

"The Commission has appreciated the close and constructive relations we enjoyed. We have worked hand in hand and we can be proud of the progress made in advancing the union’s positive agenda," the letter reads.

Selmayr puts particular emphasis on the success of the EU-Western Balkans Summit held in Sofia on 17 May 2018, which reaffirmed the commitment to the European perspective of the region, as well as on the conclusion of 46 legislative dossiers during the Presidency.

The letter also expresses special gratitude to the Bulgarian Presidency for the progress in the area of Banking Union - the Banking and Restructuring System that operates on the basis of EU-wide rules; the achievement of a negotiated mandate for the post-Cotonou agreement, which will set the general framework for the EU's relations with the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries over the next two decades; the reform of the Common European Asylum System, laying down the rules for the registration and distribution of migrants; the reform of the Dublin Regulation, which is at the heart of the common EU migration policy; as well as for the swift launch of discussions on the proposals for the Multiannual Financial Framework - the next budget of the European Union for the period from 2021 to 2027.

The letter ends with a hand written note by Martin Selmayr saying “United we stand strong – also after the Bulgarian Presidency”.