Bulgaria can demonstrate leadership in connection with creating a European Public Prosecutor’s Office, Deniza Slateva, former Deputy Prime Minister for the Preparation of the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council in the caretaker cabinet of Ognian Gerdjikov, said in an interview for the Bulgarian National Radio. Along with the creation of the problematic European Asylum System she predicted this would be one of the challenging legislative dossiers during Bulgaria’s Presidency of the Council of EU.

“The topic is sensitive for Bulgaria as EU outer border and is bound to a future accession to Schengen, she said. “Bulgaria is going to sustain its national position, i.e. on all dossiers which will be discussed in the councils we shall have a national stance and our representatives will be empowered to defend it. It is very important after the Presidency, what the country will be remembered for.”

Bulgaria can contribute to concrete steps for the integration of the Western Balkans, Slateva explained. According to her the topic of Turkey’s EU membership will also receive plenty of attention during Bulgaria’s EU Presidency that opens on 1 January 2018. “I hope that Bulgaria will hold a successful presidency”, Slateva also said.