At the invitation of the Bulgarian EU Council presidency, members of the European affairs committees of the national parliaments of the EU member states, the EU candidate countries and EU partner countries (in particular the EFTA/EEA countries) will gather in Sofia between 17 and 19 June. National Council members Kathy Riklin (CVP, ZH) and Hans-Peter Portmann (FDP, ZH), and Council of States member Didier Berberat (SP, NE) will represent the EFTA/EU Delegation at this inter-parliamentary conference. Following the conference the delegation will visit a number of projects supported by Switzerland in Bulgaria as part of the EU enlargement contribution.

​The main themes of the 59th meeting of the committees of national parliaments of EU member states dealing with European affairs (COSAC) will reflect those of Bulgarian EU Council presidency. These include greater integration and connectivity of the Western Balkans in the EU, the promotion of the European pillar of social rights, the shaping of a strong and effective cohesion policy post-2020 and a debate on interparliamentary cooperation in the areas of subsidiarity and proportionality. The representatives of the national parliaments will have th opportunity to discuss these issues with the first vice president of the European Parliament, Mairead McGuinness, the first vice president of the European Commission, Frans Timmermanns, and with Bulgaria’s deputy prime minister, Tomislav Donchev.
 
Following the interparliamentary conference the member of the Swiss EFTA/EU delegation will visit a number of projects supported by Switzerland as part of its EU enlargement contribution. Switzerland’s contribution to Bulgaria amounts to CHF 76 million and is aimed at reducing economic and social disparities in Bulgaria leading to greater stability and prosperity in Europe. Switzerland’s EU enlargement contribution is part of the country’s European policy and serves to consolidate relations between Switzerland and the EU, as well as its member states.