site.btaDeputy PM Kuneva Talks with Austria's Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs Minister Kurz

Deputy PM Kuneva Talks with Austria's Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs Minister Kurz

Vienna, October 5 (BTA) - Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister for European Policies, Coordination and Institutional Affairs Meglena Kuneva met with Austria's Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs Minister Sebastian Kurz. Kuneva is in Vienna on a working visit.

The two ministers told a news conference they discussed the current problems caused by the migrant crisis and the consequences for the EU.

Kurz said they outlined the topics the two countries will work on during the EU Presidency in 2018: security, protection of the external borders, and dealing with the problems caused by migrant flows.

For her part, Kuneva said the EU has to protect the citizens' interests as well as to find political solutions for their protection.

The sides concurred in identifying Europe's problems and the ways to tackle them, Kuneva stressed.

The next Estonia-Bulgaria-Austria meeting will be held in Vienna in December. The main areas of cooperation will be borders, migration and the EU's future.

Economy-wise, the two officials stressed the importance of eliminating barriers and of ways to attract international business to the EU countries more successfully.

The Presidency Trio will also focus on the post-Brexit processes and the Multiannual Financial Framework.

Kuneva and Kurz also discussed bilateral political and economic cooperation. Austria is the second largest investor in Bulgaria, which is the most certain sign of the two countries' excellent relations, Kuneva stressed.

Earlier on Wednesday, she participated in the Fifth EU-Southeast Europe Summit organized by The Economist.