Prime Minister Kiril Petkov held a meeting with the President of Albania Ilir Meta

Prime Minister Kiril Petkov on April 5 met with the President of Albania Ilir Meta, who is on an official visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of his Bulgarian counterpart. The talks focused on bilateral relations and regional cooperation, as well as the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries.

Prime Minister Petkov noted that there is a huge potential for the development of economic cooperation based on the good political dialogue between the two countries.

Petkov and Meta discussed priority infrastructure projects for the region's connectivity. The two leaders underlined the strategic importance of the European transport corridor No 8, linking the Adriatic Sea and the Black Sea.

The Bulgarian national minority in Albania is a major bridge of friendship and a factor for strengthening mutual trust, Kiril Petkov further told Ilir Meta. The Prime Minister noted the importance our country attaches to ensuring that the Bulgarian minority can take full advantage of its right to learn its mother tongue.

The Bulgarian Prime Minister confirmed the country's support for Albania's readiness to start EU membership negotiations.

Bulgaria is consistent in its position that the Western Balkan countries belong in the European Union. In this regard, Petkov underlined the Bulgarian government's efforts to intensify the dialogue with North Macedonia and overcome the contradictions.