Sofia, December 16 (BTA) - Prime Minister Kiril Petkov is visiting Brussels on December 17, the government information service said. This will be his first working visit abroad since he headed Bulgaria's new government on Monday.

In Brussels, Petkov is scheduled to meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The Bulgarian Prime Minister will set forth the government's key priorities.

The discussions with the European leaders will focus on the energy sector and the surge in energy prices, the Recovery and Resilience Plan, the anti-corruption effort, stepping up the COVID vaccination drive, and EU enlargement in the Western Balkans. Security challenges in the Black Sea region and Southeastern Europe will top the agenda of Petkov's meeting with Stoltenberg. RY/DD