site.btaForeign Minister Gabriel: Bulgaria Is and Will Remain Committed to Council of Europe's Policies

Bulgaria is and will remain committed to the Council of Europe's policies: rule of law, democracy, and human rights, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel said during talks with Council of Europe (CoE) Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić. Bulgaria will take part in the discussions on the new challenges on CoE's agenda: artificial intelligence and human rights, cyber security and global challenges, Gabriel also said, as quoted by her Ministry on Thursday. 

The Foreign Minister noted that the high standards set by CoE are of leading importance in the development of Bulgaria's national legislation, for example in the recently adopted changes in the judicial system and in the field of countering domestic violence.

Gabriel also said that Bulgaria participates actively in CoE's expanded areas of cooperation. One of her first decisions upon taking office was Bulgaria's accession to the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

The Bulgarian Foreign Minister's meeting with the CoE Secretary General was held during Gabriel's working visit to Strasbourg on Wednesday. Gabriel also conferred with CoE Parliamentary Assembly Secretary General Despina Chatzivassiliou-Tsovilis and with  European Court of Human Rights President Síofra O'Leary. Gabriel also attended the annual State of the Union address delivered by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.