European Union external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner is to be awarded Bulgaria's highest state order Stara Planina by country's President Georgi Parvanov at a special ceremony on Monday.

The EU official, who played an important role for releasing Bulgarian medics from imprisonment in Libya, arrives on a visit to Sofia together with her Consumer Protection counterpart Meglena Kuneva.

During her one-day visit to Bulgaria's capital, Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner will also become an honorary Sofia citizen. The title is to be given to her at a ceremony, which will take place in the city's Municipality building.

Later in the day, commissioner Ferrero-Waldner will read a lecture on the topic "European neighbouring policy and Black Sea collaboration - new opportunities for Bulgaria" in the ceremonial hall of Sofia University.

On her part, Bulgaria's Kuneva will meet students from French language high school, where she is to present the project "European diary". She will end her official visit to Bulgaria with a meeting with the press September 18.

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