As EU member state Bulgaria was going to play important role for the development of the Black Sea region and the Western Balkans, Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin said.

On November 15 Kalfin met chairman of the Federal Council of Austria Gottfried Kneifel, Bulgarian National Radio reported.

Kalfin thanked Austria for the fast ratification procedure of Bulgaria's EU accession treaty.

Bulgaria received valuable aid and know-how from Austria on its way to EU entry, said Kalfin. Among the useful joint projects was police co-operation aimed at limiting human trafficking, said he.

Further co-operation between the two countries could focus on transport infrastructure, energy projects and regional development within the Western Balkan region, said Kalfin.

Kneifel said that officials and institutions in Bulgaria now had the task to increase the trust of people in the upcoming EU entry of the country.

Photo courtesy of mfa.government.bg