US investment in Bulgaria could be much higher if local authorities paid more attention to organised crime and corruption problems, US ambassador to Bulgaria John Beyrle said.

Beyrle said that throughout his mandate he kept on emphasising the importance of the fight against organised crime and corruption.

Judicial institutions and political leaders had to enforce laws in the problematic sectors, Beyrle said as quoted by Bulgarian news agency BTA.

Every ordinary Bulgarian shared this opinion, Beyrle said.

If Bulgaria resolved the organised crime and corruption problems, it will become a modern European country, Beyrle said.

Co-operation between Bulgaria and the US produced significant results in drug trafficking prevention, Beyrle said.