Norway supports Bulgaria's plan for European integration of Western Balkans: PM

SOFIA, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg here on Wednesday supported Bulgarian ambition to provide a tangible European perspective for the Western Balkans during its upcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU).

Bulgaria would take the EU presidency in a very important time for Europe, Solberg said at a joint press conference after bilateral talks with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.

Solberg said her country agreed with Bulgaria's EU presidency priorities, particularly in the fields of migration and the integration of the Western Balkans into the EU.

The peoples of the Western Balkan countries should see that the EU has embraced them, Borissov said in turn.

Later on Wednesday at a meeting with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, Solberg confirmed her support for the Bulgarian position on the European integration of the Western Balkans.

"Although we are far from the region, we support Bulgaria's priority for the integration of the Western Balkans because it will have a positive effect on the security of us all," Solberg said as quoted by the press office of Bulgarian president.

According to the press office, Radev said that Bulgaria and Norway have great potential for increasing bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

"Bulgaria draws on Oslo's experience and best practices in the field of labor protection and social policy," Radev said, according to his press office.

Bulgaria will chair the Council of the EU in the first half of 2018. Enditem