site.btaPM Borissov Speaks on Phone with Austrian People's Party Leader Kurz

Sofia, December 5 (BTA) - Prime Minister Boyko Borissov had a phone conversation with Sebastian Kurz, Austrian Foreign Minister and leader of the Austrian People's Party, which won the parliamentary elections in the country, the Government Information Service said Monday.

Borissov and Kurz, who is tasked with forming a government and is expected to become Chancellor of Austria within weeks, discussed the opportunities for a stronger partnership and cooperation between their countries, as well as the challenges within the EU.

In the context of the Presidency of the EU Council that Bulgaria and Austria will hold consecutively in 2018, Borissov and Kurz discussed topics related to the future reforms and processes in the Union. The two countries' consecutive EU presidencies give a big chance for better results to be achieved, Kurz said. The Bulgarian Prime Minister acquainted him with the EU-Western Balkans Summit to be hosted by Sofia in May 2018 within the Bulgarian EU Presidency. The two leaders specified that they will unite their efforts for the Western Balkans, and expressed the belief that together Bulgaria and Austria within a year will contribute to the achievement of a big step forward in the region's development, including better connectivity and lasting results on the Western Balkan countries' European path.

Kurz invited the Bulgarian PM to be his official guest in Vienna on January 1, and Borissov said he expects him as a colleague at the European Council.