site.bta Cabinet Ministers Donchev, Kuneva Meet with Guests from Serbian National Assembly

Cabinet Ministers Donchev, Kuneva Meet with Guests from Serbian National Assembly

Sofia, March 31 (BTA) - Deputy prime ministers Meglena Kuneva
and Tomislav Donchev had a working meeting with representatives
of the Serbian National Assembly's European Integration
Committee on Tuesday, the Cabinet's press service said.

A delegation of the Committee headed by its Chairman Aleksandar
Senic is on an official visit to Bulgaria on Monday and Tuesday.

Joint energy and infrastructure projects as well as good
practices in the context of the talks on the integration of
Serbia into the EU featured on the agenda of the talks.

"A major premise in the science of regional development is that
one cannot be rich and have poor neighbors at the same time.
Bulgaria and Serbia have a common interest, especially in the
context of the single European perspective, and the goal is to
develop well together," Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev
said. Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva stated that "in times
 of negotiations, and within the EU, one's best partner is their
 neighbour. We are sincerely interested in our neighbour being a
 member of the EU - not only because of the roads, but also
because regions have their own interests. Serbia is a strong and
 important country for the Balkans. With you, the voice of all
other Balkan countries will be louder."

Other topics that were on the agenda included Trans-European
Transport Corridor No. 10, the gas interconnector between
Bulgaria and Serbia, the construction of two new checkpoints,
the programmes on cross-border cooperation and Bulgaria's
experience in EU funds management. 

Tomislav Donchev stressed the priority importance of the
construction of the Bulgarian section of Corridor X as a
priority for the country and stated that it could be implemented
 with funds from the national budget. The gas interconnector
with Serbia was discussed as a strategically important project
for both countries.

Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva shared BulgariaТs
experience in the EU accession process and in the closing of
negotiation chapters and recommended Belgrade negotiated a fixed
 completion date. European Integration Committee Chair
Aleksandar Senic thanked the Bulgarian side for sharing EU
accession-related experience.