On the 1^st of July 2018, Austria took over the Council Presidency for six months for the third time (after 1998 and 2006).

In a discussion held on the 5^th of July, organized by PanEurope Bulgaria, the Representation of the European Commission in Bulgaria, the Bureau of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute and the Austrian Embassy in Sofia, the Minister for the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council 2018, Mrs. Liliana Pavlova introduced the participants with the achievements of the completed Bulgarian Presidency. H. E. Mr. Roland Hauser, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Austria to the Republic of Bulgaria, presented the priorities of the Austrian Presidency.

Under the motto "Europe that protects" over the next six months Austria will focus its efforts on the following three priorities:

           Security and fight against illegal migration

           Ensuring prosperity and competitiveness through digitization

           Neighborhood Stability - A European Perspective for the Western Balkans and Southeast Europe

On the evening of the 5^th of July, at the Concert Hall of the Central Military Club in the capital, the Austrian Embassy also organized a Concert on the occasion of the Austrian Presidency of the EU Council. The Symphonnette Sofia Symphony Orchestra with conductor Svilen Simeonov, soloists Alexander Svete /guitar/ and Eduardo Garcia /bandoneon/ took part in the program. There were works by Bulgarian and Austrian composers.

The material was provided by the Austrian Embassy in Sofia.

In the picture above: H. E. Mr. Roland Hauser, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Austria to the Republic of Bulgaria, Ms. Liliana Pavlova, Minister for the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council 2018, Mr. Ognyan Zlatev, Head of the Representation of the EC in Bulgaria and Ms. Gergana Passy, ​​President of PanEurope Bulgaria