​On 1 February, members of the European Committee of the Regions held a debate on the priorities of the Bulgarian presidency of the EU Council with Mr Tomislav Donchev, Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria.

In the debate, Mr Donchev outlined the presidency's main ambitions in the next 6 months and particularly stressed the need for more solidarity and cohesion within the EU, as well as the simplification of rules and procedures.

Member of the Cork City Council Kieran McCarthy urged the Bulgarian presidency to create the right environment for the start of negotiations on the new multiannual financial framework (MFF), due to start by the end of the presidency's mandate, and ensure that the future of EU's cohesion policy is not put in question as a consequence of the budgetary cuts imposed by Brexit.

As a CoR rapporteur on the European Digital Economy, Mr McCarthy also called on the Bulgarian authorities to dedicate special attention to the "digital cohesion" within the EU, in particular to insist on securing funds for providing high-speed broadband coverage and meeting other infrastructural requirements for a successful development of digital economy in the EU.

Finally, looking forward to the European Year of Cultural Heritage, Mr McCarthy expressed satisfaction that a country like Bulgaria, whose people look after their cultural identity and heritage, will chair the European Council for the first half of this important event.