Meeting of the EU club at BCCI, dedicated to the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the EU

At its regular meeting on the occasion of the Republic of Malta taking over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the EU Club at the BCCI gathered again a number of diplomats, business representatives and institutions in the country.The President of BCCI – Mr.Tsvetan Simeonov, opened the meeting by welcoming the guests and then gave the floor to the President of the Euro Club - Prof. Ingrid Shikova. Prof. Shikova has marked in her speech the highly successful Slovak Presidency of the Council of the EU, adding that this assessment has been given even by the opposition in the country.

In his presentation, Ambassador Marian Jakubocy has summarized the past six months and presented interesting statistics of what has been done so far. Amongst many events held in Slovakia, particular attention was drawn to Bratislava Summit Forum, which was held last September. The main topic during the forum was the future of the European Union after Brexit. It was emphasized that all activities for the preparation and implementation of the Presidency were subject to three principles: achievement of tangible results, overcoming of fragmentation and focus on citizens.

Along the same lines, speaking about what is needed for a successful Presidency, the Ambassador of Malta HE Prof. Lino Bianco, presented to the guests the ambitious priorities of Malta and summarized some of the serious challenges which Malta will have to tackle during its Presidency like the possible triggering of Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, entitling a Member State to withdraw from the Union.

The established priorities of the Government of Malta are six and they are very significant and well-chosen. Over the next six months the core topics in European debates shall be related to migration, single market, security, social inclusion, neighborhood policy and maritime policy.