EC President Jose Manuel Barroso was awarded Bulgaria's highest state order Stara Planina - first degree. Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia Photo Agency)
EC President Jose Manuel Barroso arrived for an official visit in Bulgaria on Friday to receive the country's highest state order "Stara Planina" - first degree.
President Georgi Parvanov awarded Barroso over his contribution to the cause of releasing the Bulgarian nurses, who were jailed for more than eight years in Libya over accusations of deliberately infecting children with HIV.
Just before the awarding ceremony, Barroso had lunch with Bulgaria's Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev.
Immediately after the meeting, the two officials gave a press conference in Sofia's Arena di Serdika Hotel.
Barroso will also have a conversation with the parliament's Speaker Georgi Pirinski.