Regional cooperation and Serbian EU integration were among the main topics of discussion between Speaker of the Parliament Dimitar Glavchev, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic. A Bulgarian parliamentary delegation, led by the Speaker of the Parliament, is on a three-day official visit to Serbia. 

Ties and cooperation between our two countries are very important to us and there is a potential to develop and deepen them, emphasised Prime Minister Ana Brnabic. We hope that Bulgaria will support Serbia’s accession to the EU and that we will work together on stability and security in the region, because the more stable the region is, the better this is for our common future, she said.

Bulgaria has made a lot of efforts and we have managed to convince our partners that the integration of the Western Balkans should be on the EU agenda again, emphasised the Speaker of the Parliament. At the meetings in the Serbian capital, we have been assured that your country has the will and is making all the efforts to fulfil the necessary criteria, said Dimitar Glavchev. That is why we are ready to help not only during the presidency, but also during Serbia’s further preparation for EU membership, he added.

Among our priorities are the implementation of the corridor No 10 project, Sofia-Dimitrovgrad-Nis motorway, and the gas transmission connection between Bulgaria and Serbia, said Dimitar Glavchev. He said that a solution should be found to the problems with the local authorities in Bosilegrad, which were brought to his attention at the meetings with the representatives of the Bulgarian national minority, and urged the two countries to work together to find effective solutions and for the economic development of the municipality. The Speaker of the Parliament emphasised that regional cooperation played a key role in strengthening stability and prosperity in the region. Bulgaria has a substantial contribution in this respect, he said.

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said that Serbia had taken all measures to guarantee the rights of the minorities and to create more jobs in the municipalities with national minorities.

Serbia’s accession to the EU and the support that Bulgaria can provide in the preparation process was also discussed with Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic. Of great importance for us will be the forthcoming EU-Western Balkans Summit in May 2018, which will take place during the Bulgarian presidency, he said.

The Serbian Foreign Minister expressed his satisfaction with the development of bilateral dialogue and said that both countries had been trying to develop bilateral relations in all areas of common interest. Building infrastructure and other projects, among which is Nis-Sofia motorway, is very important for us, he said. In his words, Bulgaria and Serbia should work together to ensure energy stability in the region.