European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos stated today in Sofia that Bulgaria represents the “gateway of Europe” to the Black Sea region and Turkey, reports the Bulgarian portal Novinite.
“We are working on better connecting people for the future. Bulgaria represents the gateway of Europe to the Black Sea region and Turkey. The Western Balkans have a key connecting role here,” Kos said at the international ministerial conference on Corridor VIII in Sofia.
According to her, more than 130 projects are currently being implemented in the Western Balkans, including the construction of new roads and railways, as well as the improvement of border crossings.
Kos assessed that her vision, however, is broader than infrastructure development.
“I believe that one day the entire Western Balkans will be part of our Europe,” said the European Commissioner.
She added that in that case, border crossings and roads would not have the same significance as today, because, as she noted, the region would be part of “one Europe working together.”
“That is the vision we are working on in Brussels, here in Sofia, in the Western Balkans and, of course, in the member states,” said Kos.
Kos is on a working visit to Bulgaria and is participating in the international ministerial conference on Corridor VIII in Sofia, hosted by Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova. A meeting with Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev is also scheduled.
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