Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar arrives on a several hours visit to Sofia on Monday. Spain takes over European Union presidency January 1 and the aim of the Prime Minister now is to visit all candidate countries in his capacity of a future president of the EU. For the first time ever Prime Minster visits candidate countries – the usual practice is to visit only members. Aznar will meet only his old friend the current Prime Minister of Bulgaria Simeon Saxe-Coburg, who spent more than 35 years in exile in Spain. Aznar backed strongly the past Prime Minister Ivan Kostov before the general election in June, as their parties are members of the European People`s party.