Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin and European Integration Minister Meglena Kouneva participated in a session of the Council of Europe. The summit began with presentation of the priorities of the Austrian EU presidency for the coming six months.

One of the priorities is solving problems in the Western Balkans, Kalfin said. European enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn presented the measures EU will accept for improving the relations with the region.

Specific regional policy measures will be discussed during a March unofficial EU session in Salzburg, the Bulgarian National Radio reports.

Head of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso presented a report on the employment and development in the EU, which will be discussed during the March session. A new strategy should aim at the development of smaller businesses and scientific research.