site.btaRomania and Greece Support Balkan Gas Hub Project, European Integration of Western Balkans

Bucharest/Sofia, March 12 (BTA) - The Foreign Ministers of Bulgaria, Romania and Greece issued a joint declaration expressing support for the construction of the Balkan Gas Hub and for the European integration of the Western Balkans. The declaration was adopted during the Bucharest meeting of the three top diplomats: Ekaterina Zaharieva of Bulgaria, Nikos Kodzias of Greece and Teodor Melescanu of Romania, said the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry press office.

It was the 10th edition of the meeting in this format.

The declaration says that the three countries will cooperate in the development of the Balkan gas hub, which is expected to improve security of supplies and diversify the gas routes and sources.

The three ministers also vow support for the construction of the Bulgaria-Romania and Bulgaria-Greece gas interconnectors.

The top Bulgarian diplomat is quoted as saying that she is happy to have received conditional support from her Greek and Romanian counterparts for the European perspectives of the Western Balkan countries. "I am sure that the Balkans will remain a key priority during the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council," she said.

The three ministers reconfirmed their conviction that the enlargement of the EU is a key factor of stability and prosperity in the region. They expect that all six countries in the Western Balkans will make headway on their European road during the coming years.

They said that putting forward and following just criteria, and assessing objectively the progress made, are important principles in the enlargement policy.

Ekaterina Zaharieva pointed out that the Sofia forum in May will be the first EU summit meeting about the Western Balkans in 15 years. "I hope we are not going to wait another 15 years for the next meeting, and instead make these regular meetings," she added.

The Romanian and the Greek Foreign Ministers commended Bulgaria for putting forward the region. Melescanu said his country would continue to do the same during its EU Presidency.

The three top diplomats also expressed support for the Eastern Partnership countries.

They said that admitting Sofia and Bucharest in the Schengen agreement will improve EU security and enhance the efforts against illegal migration, human trafficking and terrorism.

Later on Monday the three Foreign Ministers were received by Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila.