| Резюме: |
The EU Council Presidency is one of the most important and substantial functions for each Member State by virtue of its appurtenance to the Union. It is an essential element of the legislative process in the EU, whereby, within a specified period of time, a Member State plays a role bigger than the other, and this process is spearheaded, coordinated and guided by its national administration. This article aims to present some issues, opportunities and challenges related to the preparation of Bulgaria for chairing the Council of the EU during the period January 1st – June 30th 2018, taking into consideration the decision of the United Kingdom to proceed to withdraw from the Union in accordance with the outcome of the EU membership Referendum of June 26th, 2016. The article systematically analyses the essential features of the EU Council Presidency, its basic functions, agenda and priorities, highlighting the leading role of the "Troika" in the whole process. Also analysed are the characteristics of the parliamentary dimension of the Presidency of the Council. Special attention is paid to the different risks and challenges both of internal or international nature facing the Bulgarian Presidency, including the forthcoming Brexit negotiation, expected to begin and to conclude during the mandate of the “Troika” of Estonia, Bulgaria and Austria. |