site.btaForeign Minister Zaharieva to Attend Berlin Process Meeting on Western Balkans in London

Sofia, July 8 (BTA) - Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva will take part in the annual Berlin Process foreign ministers meeting on the Western Balkans in London on July 9, Zaharieva's Ministry said in a press release on Sunday.

The Berlin Process, initiated by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2014, encourages the European integration of the six Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia) and their cooperation with likeminded European nations (Austria, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Slovenia and the United Kingdom). Bulgaria is joining this year because of the EU-Western Balkans Summit that took place in Sofia in May 2018. EU officials and representatives of the international financial institutions are also invited to attend.

On Monday, the foreign ministers will confer and will meet with representatives of civil society and youth groups in the region. The fifth Summit within the Berlin Process will follow on Tuesday. There, the heads of State or government will focus on overcoming youth unemployment, strengthening regional connectivity, encouraging business and enhancing regional security cooperation, including the fight against corruption, organized crime, human trafficking and terrorism.

Poland is designated to host the next Balkan Process summit in 2019