2018 is the European Year of Cultural Heritage and it will begin in Sofia on 11 January, as the official start is given to the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU, said Lilyana Pavlova, Minister for the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

She added that Sofia Municipality has scheduled a programme to show the guests as much of our cultural heritage as possible in a more active way, on the sidelines of the busy political agenda. She stated further that it is Bulgaria’s wish that a powerful declaration on the Western Balkans is issued from Sofia at the close of the Bulgarian Presidency. This is expected to take place on 17 May, when the leaders of all EU members as well as of the countries of the Western Balkans will be in Sofia.