site.btaCroatian Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Delegation Pays Visit to Bulgaria

Sofia, November 27 (BTA) - Representatives of the Croatian Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee held a series of meetings in Parliament here Monday to discuss Bulgaria's preparations for the EU Presidency and the Western Balkans as its key foreign policy priority, the Bulgarian Parliament said in a press release.

National Assembly Deputy Chair Yavor Notev stressed the spiritual closeness between Bulgarians and Croatians and the common responsibility to bring this closeness into economic relations, just as is the case with tourism.

The Bulgarian MP noted that the Western Balkans must take their deserved spot on the map of united Europe. The problems facing the region are common and solving them is in the interest of all countries, Notev said.

Croatian Parliamentary Committee Chair Miro Kovac believes that his country and Bulgaria can achieve much more together not only when it comes to economic cooperation, but also in conducting joint policies aimed at the Western Balkans's integration. Kovac also announced his country's plans to come out with specific proposals by next May, when state and government leaders of the EU and the Western Balkans are scheduled to meet in Sofia.

National Assembly Foreign Policy Committee Chair Djema Grozdanova made the Croatian parliamentarians familiar with the priorities of Bulgaria's upcoming first EU Presidency. The topics range from the EU's future and young people, digital economy, the European perspective for countries from the Western Balkans, to Europe's stability and security. According to her, Bulgaria could share its experience from hosting the EU Presidency with Croatia, which is scheduled to be at the helm of the EU in 2020.