The Republic of Bulgaria

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

According to Bulgaria the process of integration of the Western Balkans to the EU should be realised on the Basis of the Thessaloniki Agenda. It is necessary to seek mechanisms to implement the objectives, including to implement important regional infrastructure projects, which are a key element for the region's stability and prosperity.

After January 1 2007 the Balkans have a new political architecture. With the membership of Bulgaria and Romania the European Union is linked as an inseparable entity from the North to the South on the Balkan Peninsula. At the same time to the north, south, west and east the Western Balkans border the European Union.

Bulgaria develops good-neighbourly relations with all countries in the region of South-Eastern Europe. Due to its geographic position it participates in all regional initiatives and organisations and its territory is crossed by five of the total of ten Trans-European infrastructure corridors.

Bulgaria supports the European and Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkan countries as the main road towards establishing stability and security, economic prosperity and good-neighbourly relations in the region. Drawing closer to the EU and NATO requires the building of stable institutions, consolidation of the democratic processes, development of a market economy, rule of law, protection of human rights and of minorities. The principle of evaluation according to merit is a stimulating factor for the progress of any single country on the road to the EU.

The European perspective for the Western Balkan countries is realised within the Stabilisation and Association Process. The conclusion of Stabilisation and Association Agreements is a key step on the road to the EU. The process of drawing closer to the EU is assisted through the EU financial instruments, and through providing access to the Community programmes, supporting cross-border cooperation, regional development, creating a free-trade zone, concluding visa facilitation agreements, support for regional cooperation.

The European perspective for the Western Balkans is considered in fundamental EU documents such as the Thessaloniki Agenda, the EC Communication on the Western Balkans, the EC Enlargement Strategy and the Main Challenges 2006-2007.

According to Bulgaria the integration process of the Western Balkans to the EU should be implemented on the basis of the Thessaloniki Agenda. It is necessary to seek mechanisms to realise the goals, including to implement significant infrastructure projects which are a key element for the stability and prosperity of the region. The Thessaloniki Agenda recommends to the Western Balkan countries to achieve progress in the field of education, social development and culture as a way to reaffirm tolerance and the formation of modern democratic societies, including through initiatives for objective review of the history textbooks.

The countries of the Western Balkans are at different stages of their European perspective. Croatia is in the process of negotiations for membership, the Republic of Macedonia has a candidate-country status, Albania has signed a SAA, Montenegro has signed a SAA, as has Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Serbia has initialled a SAA.