(Brussels) Bulgaria will be handing over the presidency of the Council of the European Union to Austria on 1 July, which will keep it for the second half of 2018. “A Europe that protects” will be the motto and the priority of the Austrian presidency, based on a fundamental principle: “The European Union should focus on big issues which require a joint solution and take a step back when it comes to smaller issues where Member States or regions are in a better position to take decisions”. This is how Austria intends to approach the motto of the European Union “United in Diversity”. The priorities set by Austria for its six-month term are three: security and the fight against illegal migration; securing prosperity and competitiveness through digitalisation; and stability in the neighbouring regions, particularly the Western Balkans and south-eastern Europe. “Austria views its role”, the website launched for the presidency (www.eu2018.at) reads, “as that of a neutral broker”. This is due to “its geographic location in the heart of the EU”, and “its obligation of neutrality”, and is “in line with its traditional role as bridge builder”. The European Commission will be in Vienna on 5 and 6 July for the beginning of the presidency.