European Commission

VIENNA - According to a draft strategy of the European Commission, 2025 will be the year of the beginning of EU accession for Western Balkan countries, but this is not a set date, but a best-case scenario, Vienna-based paper Presse reports.

Quoting a source in the European Commission, the paper said 2025 was not a set target date, but one that was possible in the best-case scenario.

''The European Union must be even stronger when the Bulgarian Presidency is over. The Bulgarian institutions will work actively and united to achieve this goal.'' This was stated by President Rumen Radev, who today met with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker at "Dondukov" 2.

''The Western Balkans are a priority of the European Commission as well as a priority of Bulgaria.'' This is what EC President Jean-Claude Juncker said during his meeting with Prime Minister Boyko Borissov at the Council of Ministers, announced bTV participants in the event.

Bulgaria has formally taken over the EU's six-month rotating presidency, for the first time, Euronews reported.

Bulgaria, which holds the current EU Presidency, expressed its desire Monday to work with the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini to boost ties between the EU and the Middle East region. "We are working with the EEAS (European External Action Service) on relations with the Middle East.

BRUSSELS - The European Commission (EC) has still not finalised the EU enlargement strategy for the Western Balkans, but it is certain the document will focus on Serbia and Montenegro, the EC has told Tanjug.

Anti-fraud measures are discussed at today's meeting of EU commissioners, sega reported. The main theme will be the so-called black list of tax havens.

The European Parliament, the Council of the EU and the European Commission have reached a political agreement to eliminate the unjustified blockade of a geographical principle for Internet users, which is an important part of building a digital single market for Europe, the EC press service said.

Two very different reports concerning Greece and its bailout programs were published by European institutions last week.

"We see progress in many areas, but still more work is needed," said EU Commission First Vice President Vice-President, Frans Timmermans, on the Commission's report on progress in Bulgaria under the Co-operation and Verification Mechanism, reported BGNES.