BG

BULGARIA, ROMANIA, GREECE, AND SERBIA SET UP WORKING GROUPS TO SPEED UP INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN THE BALKANS

24.04.2018

 

Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, and Serbia discussed specific projects for the development of the Balkans at the High-Level Cooperation Council that took place in Bucharest. The transport corridors and energy and digital connectivity were at the center of talks between Prime Ministers Boyko Borissov, Viorica Dancila, Alexis Tsipras, and President Aleksander Vucic.


 
The leaders decided to set up working groups for the transport and communications ministers of the four countries to finalize the projects before the "16 + 1" meeting in July in Sofia.


 
"The fact that our meetings continue to take place is a good news. We do not intend to come up with declarations, we want infrastructure, ports, we want progress," said Prime Minister Borissov, who held the first meeting in this format last autumn in Varna. He reiterated his call for understanding and dialogue on the Balkans, underlining that a problem in any country concerns the whole region.


 
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras pointed out that the goal of the quadrilateral Council is to contribute to peace, stability, and security in the region. "The Balkans have potential and we are here to consider development opportunities according to our interests, not just the agenda of third countries," said Tsipras. He said his country is considering joining the "16 + 1" Initiative.


 
The Greek and the Romanian Prime Ministers expressed high appreciation for what has been achieved during the Bulgarian EU Council Presidency. They put a stress on the priority for the Western Balkans and reaffirmed their support for the European integration process of the countries from the region.


 
President Aleksander Vucic thanked for Borissov's committment to the Western Balkans and specifically for Serbia, and stressed the readiness of all four Council countries to speed up the implementation of infrastructure projects.