They discussed and united around the opinion that their was potential to develop the relations between Bulgaria and Turkey in the fields of trade, tourism, energy and transport. The participants in the meeting, held at the National Assembly, included leaders and members of the GERB parliamentary group, chairpersons of parliamentary committees and the Mayor of the Turkish town of Edirne Hamdi Sedefchi. The discussion was held at the initiative of the Turkish guest.

At the meeting, the deputy chair of the GERB parliamentary group, Dimitar Glavchev, stressed that despite the world economic crisis the exchange of goods between the two countries has gone up from USD 3,1 B in 2010 to over USD 4 B in 2011. In his words this fact proves the great potential for partnership between the two countries in the economic sphere.

As for the transport sector Bulgaria and Turkey are involved in the construction of the Pan- European transport corridor No 4 that will link Europe with Asia, added Dimitar Glavchev. The two countries are successful partners in the control of border checkpoints and had reached an agreement to hold common patrols on the Bulgarian – Turkish border.

The Turkish guest noted that his country may profit from the experience of Bulgaria regarding the use of funds from the EU pre-accession programs.

The meeting was attended also by the deputy chair of the GERB parliamentary group Tsveta Karayancheva, the chair of the parliamentary Committee on Foreign Policy and Defense Dobroslav Dimitrov and the chairwoman of the European Affairs and European Funds Oversight Committee Monika Panayotova.