The first Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU has been officially opened with a solemn ceremony at the Ivan Vazov National Theater downtown Sofia.

President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani, European Council President Donald Tusk, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and other officials from this country and abroad were present at the event in the Bulgarian capital city.

The ceremony started with the Bulgarian anthem performed by the BNR Children's Choir, after which Bulgarian MEP Lilyana Pavlova, Bulgaria's President Rumen Radev, Parliament Speaker Tsveta Karayancheva and Prime Minister Boyko Borissov made their opening speeches. Heads of major EU institutions also took the floor.

Official Speeches  HERE

The Bulgarian Presidency starts with the first big investment on the Juncker plan with the signing of an agreement the largest project in Bulgaria to this moment, guaranteed by a loan from the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), which is the central pillar of the Juncker plan for growth and jobs in Europe.