Bulgaria's Council of Ministers approved a 2017 Working Programme for the country's Communication Strategy for the European Union, the government press service reported on Wednesday. The Working Programme will use a budget of 900,000 leva, including 360,000 leva for domestic activities and 540,000 leva for international activities.

The domestic activities will be aimed to raise the awareness of the Bulgarian public about the role and the objectives of the European Union. Special emphasis will be laid on communication initiatives popularizing the priorities of the Bulgarian EU Presidency in the first half of 2018 and promoting decision-making partnership in the bloc.

The international activities will serve Bulgaria's long-term foreign policy priorities, which include presenting a positive image of the country as an EU member and advertising its active participation in formulating and carrying out EU policies, with a focus on the full integration of the Western Balkan countries and the deepening of cooperation with the Eastern Partnership countries.

The Council of Ministers also adopted a report on the implementation of the Working Programme for 2016.