Bulgarian leaders back EU strategy on Western Balkans

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Bulgaria's top political leaders have voiced support for the new enlargement strategy regarding the Western Balkans adopted by the European Commission.

The Commission is hoping to be able to add countries in the region to the bloc by 2025.

The Western Balkans, as never before, took a place in a fundamental document of the European Union (EU) defining future EU priorities and actions, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said in a statement.

"I welcome the Strategy for the Western Balkans adopted by the European Commission," Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said in another statement.

The strategy, which was adopted on Tuesday, marked an important stage in the realization of the goal of membership of the entire Balkan region into the united European family, Radev said.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov talks during a summit to support regional integration in the Western Balkans region in Sofia on December 7, 2017. /VCG Photo

"It should be appreciated that the strategy is practice-oriented and outlines specific parameters of enhanced cooperation with the countries of the region," Radev said.

An important feature of the strategy was its individual approach to the countries,he added.

The document clearly declared the desire of Europe to develop as a continent of stability, security and prosperity, Borissov said, adding that Bulgarian government would support the Western Balkan countries in the process of their preparation for EU membership.

Providing a tangible European perspective for the Western Balkans is one of Bulgaria's priorities during the country's presidency of the Council of the EU this half-year.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency