Ekaterina Zaharieva and Mariya Gabriel to work together on Western Balkans' EU Integration
06 October 2017 News
Addressing European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society Mariya Gabriel, Deputy Prime Minister for Justice Reform and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva said: “Our ambition is to have a clear plan for the Western Balkan countries during the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council.”
At a meeting in Sofia they discussed the priorities of the Bulgarian EU Presidency and Gabriel's tasks as the Bulgarian representative in the European Commission. It is a priority both for the Bulgarian Government and EU Presidency, and for the European Commissioner to have a clear EU perspective for each of the six countries in the Western Balkans willing to join the EU, as well as specific benefits for their citizens.
"Our goal during the Bulgarian Presidency is to present a roadmap for lifting the mobile roaming charges between the Western Balkans and the EU," the EU Commissioner said.
“These countries often encounter technical obstacles in their progress towards EU integration, so the prospect of lifting the roaming charges between them and the EU will be a powerful incentive for them to continue with the reforms,” Zaharieva added.
Bulgaria’s top diplomat and the EU Commissioner discussed a wide range of topics, including the development of digital infrastructure aimed at the Western Balkans' better connectivity, as well as the encouragement of women in the region to pursue a career in software development and cyber security.
“The six countries expect from us to take a clear commitment regarding each one of them within the EU,” Minister Zaharieva said adding that the member state should be sincere and the neighbouring countries – consistent in their efforts towards EU integration.
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