site.btaForeign Minister Stoev Takes Part in Berlin Process Video Conference

Sofia, June 8 (BTA) - "The European perspective continues to be
a major driver of change in the Western Balkan countries and
young people and the civil society in these countries play a key
 role in this process," said caretaker Foreign Minister Svetlan
Stoev on Tuesday. He was addressing a video conference of Berlin
 Process foreign ministers, hosted by the current German
chairmanship of the initiative, the Foreign Ministry here said.

Minister Stoev expressed Bulgaria's support for focusing the
efforts on the so-called soft measures highlighting connectivity
 between the people and the countries in the Western Balkans as
the foundation for building trust, enhancing regional
cooperation and strengthening bilateral relations. Cooperation
between young people in the region is a priority which includes
access to education and science infrastructure, jobs,
recognition of diplomas and professional qualifications, as well
 as social inclusion.

Stoev underscored that in 2020 Bulgaria shared the
responsibility to co-chair the Berlin Process initiative
together with the Republic of North Macedonia with the firm
belief that this is a sign of Bulgaria's consistent foreign
policy an a logical continuation of what had been achieved under
 the Bulgarian EU Presidency and the 2018 EU-Western Balkans
Summit, when the issue of the European perspective of the
Western Balkan countries was put at the top of the EU agenda.

The Berlin Process is a regional initiative launched in August
2014 by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in order to help Western
 Balkan countries in their efforts to meet EU membership
criteria. The initiative includes Albania, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, and
sponsors, Germany, France, Austria, Italy, Poland, Greece,
Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria and the UK. RY/PP