Bulgaria: PM Petkov met with European Commissioner to discuss developments of Western Balkans
Bulgaria: PM Petkov met with European Commissioner to discuss developments of Western Balkans

Sofia, Bulgaria: The Prime Minister of Bulgaria – Kiril Petkov, met with the Hungarian lawyer and diplomat and European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement from Hungary – Oliver Varhelyi, where both the dignitaries held discussions on the regional developments in the Western Balkans. 

Prime Minister Petkov, while providing the information, tweeted, “Pleased to meet again with Oliver Varhelyi. We have discussed regional developments in the Westen Balkans and the dialogue between Macedonia & Bulgaria. I have reconfirmed our commitment to building trust and active cooperation”. 

The meeting was held during the visit of Varhelyi to the Balkan state, holding a great significance, as the talks were conducted at a crucial time when war was being fought between Russia and Ukraine

Meanwhile, Oliver Varhelyi tweeted, “I ended my Sofia visit with the hope that we can proceed w/ our Enlargement Policy as Russia’s war on Ukraine makes as to put more effort into it. I thank PM ⁦Kiril Petkov for having an open discussion about future steps, which will guide us to the 1st IGC between North Macedonia and Albania”. 

During the Sofia Balkans Forum, Varhelyi also met with the Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of the Republic of Kosova – Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz, discussing current issues going on in the country. 

“Preserving peace & security of WB, using opportunities offered by EIP & making progress on Belgrade – Pristina Dialogue is our common objectives as we tackle the effects of the war in Ukraine”, the European Commissioner added. 

He then, sharing his opinion, stated that the European Union must also utilize all the necessary tools, capacity and power to work on its perspective of the Western Balkans.  

The Bulgarian Foreign Minister – Teodora Genchovska, also met with Varhelyi at the forum held in Sofia (the Capital city of Bulgaria). 

“We agreed to work on the Enlargement policy, especially organizing the 1st IGC North Macedonia & Albania. It is our common interest to speed up the procedure”, Varhelyi added.