Committee : Foreign Affairs

As we know well in Bulgaria, this is the Committee which is responsible for starting, monitoring and concluding negotiations with EU candidate countries. Its competence also relates to human rights issues, protection of minorities and the promotion of democratic values in third countries.

But what is most important is that this Committee is in charge of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). In this respect, the Committee is assisted by the Sub-Committee on Security and Defence. The Committee on Foreign Affairs is also in charge of the relations with other EU institutions and bodies, the UN and other international organizations and interparliamentary assemblies concerning issues within its competence, as well as the strengthening of political relations with third countries, in particular EU's close neighbors, through large-scale programmes for cooperation and aid or international agreements, such as the Association and Partnership Agreements.