Gojkovic and Tsacheva opined that though the relations between the two countries are good, there is still room for improvement and underlined the importance of continuous dialogue in that context.

Tsacheva said that Bulgaria and Serbia share the same stance on a number of issues which provides a solid base for the development of cooperation, adding that Bulgaria supports Serbia’s efforts to join the European Union. She pointed out that, besides good-neighbourly relations between the two countries, if both were EU members that would be an excellent base for the further development of cooperation in the organisation as well.

Gojkovic thanked Tsacheva for Bulgaria’s support of Serbia’s Euro-integration, stressing that EU membership is the country’s priority. Gojkovic said that Serbia aims to harmonise its national legislation with the EU acquis in the next four years and conduct the necessary economic and political reforms to be ready to join the EU.

Gojkovic and Tsacheva agreed that interparliamentary cooperation is a significant component in the relations between the two states and endorsed its improvement, especially at the level of working bodies and friendship groups. The two parliament speakers stressed that need for a cooperation agreement between Serbia and Bulgaria and discussed the initiative to expand the cooperation of Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania within the Craiova Group to the parliamentary level.

The officials also discussed the migrant and refugee crisis, the need to develop the transportation infrastructure and energy cooperation, as well as the status of national minorities.

On Tuesday, 23 February, the second day of her visit to Bulgaria, Gojkovic will meet with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev and Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov.

MP Adriana Anastasov, member of the National Assembly’s friendship group with Bulgaria, is also in the delegation.