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The Council today adopted conclusions on the negotiation and conclusion of EU trade agreements. The conclusions set out the key principles underpinning the Council’s approach towards trade negotiations from now on.

The Council agreed on a general approach on a regulation aimed at improving the mutual recognition of goods marketed in another member state.

The Council agreed on a general approach on a regulation aimed at improving the mutual recognition of goods marketed in another member state.

A conference on consumer protection dedicated to the most up-to-date innovations related to the future development of European consumer policy was held in Sofia today under the title ‘Consumer Law and Consumer Protection Policy Today. Can we do better?’. The event was attended by Věra Jourová, Commissioner for Justice, Consumer Protection and Gender Equality, Emil Karanikolov, Minister of Economy, Dimitar Margaritov, Chairman of the Commission for Consumer Protection, representatives of the scientific community and leading experts in the field of consumer protection.

The Council today adopted a regulation to reform the type-approval and market surveillance system for motor vehicles in the EU. This major reform modernises the current system and improves control tests on car emissions.

The Council today authorised the Commission to open trade negotiations with Australia and New Zealand and adopted negotiating directives for each of the negotiations. “Today’s decision to open trade talks with Australia and New Zealand sends a strong signal to both countries that we value our partnerships with them and want to strengthen our existing ties. But it is also a reminder to the world of the EU’s commitment to openness, free trade and global cooperation”, Emil Karanikolov, minister of economy of Bulgaria, which currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU

The Bulgarian Presidency today steered a debate among EU member states about what the next EU industrial policy strategy should look like. Following the discussion, chaired by the Bulgarian Minister for the Economy, Emil Karanikolov, in his role as President of the Competitiveness Council, the Council called for urgent action to establish a long-term strategy for European industry to boost competitiveness, growth and innovation in Europe.

Minister of Economy Emil Karanikolov will open a seminar on “Space Balkans” – Space services for regional strategies in the digital economy: Balkan and Black Sea Perspectives.” The event is organized by the European Space Agency jointly with the Ministry of Economy and is under the auspices of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

A major challenge for Europe is creating conditions, enabling more entrepreneurs, as they create new businesses, create new jobs, develop new skills and markets. Minister of Economy Emil Karanikolov announced at the launch of Youth Entrepreneurship Conference “Follow Your Ideas – Become an Entrepreneur”, realized with the support of the Ministry of Economy and the Directorate General for Growth with the European Commission.

The prospects of the multilateral trading system and the options for a better functioning of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) were discussed at an informal meeting of the EU ministers responsible for trade. The trade ministers agreed that the EU should play a leading role in the WTO by upholding an open, rule-based multilateral trading system and opposing all attempts to undermine it.