President Mary McAleese is to pay an official visit to Bulgaria next month.
The former Communist state joined the European Union on January 1st, 2007.
Mrs McAleese is expected to meet political and business leaders during a three-day visit to the country from March 25-27th.
Meetings with members of the Irish community may also be included on the itinerary.
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Last September the president visited Bulgaria’s neighbour, Romania, which also joined the EU in 2007.
Mrs McAleese also carried out official engagements in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain last month.
The head of state completed state visits to Norway last October and to the US in December.