PM Borissov: The Balkans have capacity of becoming a powerful economic zone

The Balkans have the capacity of turning into a powerful economic zone and a way to achieve it is to partly repay the loans that international financial institutions could provide for connectivity in the Balkans through introduction of toll systems and uniform charges for the use of roads in the region, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said on 3^rd of September at a joint press conference with Montenegro’s Prime Minister Dusko Markovic in Podgorica, where he is on an official visit.

At some risks, but with much will, we have achieved significant results in the process of European integration in the Balkans. I think that by the end of the year, Montenegro has a strong chance," Prime Minister Borissov said, pointing out that active work should be done to allow the country to close two more chapters of the pre-accession process.

Prime Minister Borissov also said that a joint venture between the two countries will be established for electricity transmission.

"I think this will be a successful project. I hope in the coming months to make an economic forum, to prepare a similar structure. Montenegro and Italy are doing something unique. We have energy, we can do something similar," the PM said. In his words, it will be a Balkan project with the participation of all the states that have an interest.

Regarding migration, the Bulgarian Prime Minister reiterated that every country on an external border should make efforts to cope with the migration wave. "Bulgaria has done it - building a facility, a lot of equipment, video cameras, and we have zero migration pressure. So we showed that we can," added Borissov.

Montenegro’s Prime Minister Dusko Markovic thanked for Bulgaria's efforts to put the European perspective for the Western Balkan countries at the forefront of European Union debates. He gave a positive assessment of the results of the meetings held during the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU as well as the declaration signed by all European leaders in Sofia on the integration of the countries of the region.