Bulgaria declared Thursday its support for granting Serbia an official EU candidate member statute.
The country followed in the footsteps of France, Italy and Austria, who made similar moves earlier during the day.
The support was voiced by Bulgarian Foreign Affairs Minister, Nikolay Mladenov: “Bulgaria endorses Serbia for receiving an official EU candidate member status. This will be the start of a new, key stage in its integration to European structures, which will have crucial importance for the integration into the EU of the whole region of Western Balkans. This is also the best guarantee for the rights of our compatriots in this country. Serbia’s progress will confirm the prospect for all countries in the region wishing to join the EU.”