site.btaEPP Leaders Meet in Sofia ahead of EU-Western Balkans Summit

Sofia, May 16 (BTA) - Speaking to the press ahead of a meeting of the European People's Party (EPP) leaders in Sofia Wednesday, EPP President Joseph Daul said that the Balkans have always been a priority for his party and that the EU must work in this region in the name of the future generations.

The EPP leaders are meeting ahead of a EU-Western Balkans Summit on May 17.

Daul said that Europe has a responsibility for what happens in the Balkans and that it is in everybody's best interests to make this a secure and prosperous region.

He commended Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov for his work as an advocate of the European perspective of the Western Balkans. He expects Borissov to brief the leaders of the EPP-affiliated parties with the influences in the region.

He stressed the importance of restoring rule of law and justice in the Western Balkans in the name of the young generations.

Daul argued that integrating the Western Balkans is risk-free for the EU and that if the EU fails to do so, it will have nobody to blame about the greater influence that the US, Russia, Turkey, China or Saudi Arabia may have in the region.

Boyko Borissov said that Right and Left is not an issue at the Sofia summit. He thanked the leaders of all political parties from across the EU, and the six leaders from the Western Balkans for accepting the invitation to the Sofia meeting. "This is a success for Bulgaria," said the Bulgarian Prime Minister.