Bulgaria held the presidency of the Council of the European Union during the first half of 2018.

[1][4] The Bulgarian presidency had four major points on its agenda: (1) closing socioeconomic gaps, (2) planning for integration with states of the Western Balkans, (3) providing security and stability, and (4) adapting the economy in response to digital advances.

[5] The presidency also had to face issues pertaining to the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union (Brexit), the continuing influx of refugees and migrants, and the planning for a new multiyear budget for the union.

[6][7] Vladislava Gubalova, a research fellow at the GLOBSEC Policy Institute, described the presidency as "more about style than substance".

[8] Gubalova stated that although the presidency did not make any major missteps, the progress that it made would likely not be seen as historic.