Skopje, 31 March 2022 (MIA) – North Macedonia’s Minister of Local Self-Government Goran Milevski met with Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov in the city of Sandanski on Thursday, at a joint meeting with mayors of municipalities in the bordering region of the two countries. At the invitation of Bulgarian Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, Grozdan Karadjov, Minister Milevski and 27 mayors of municipalities in the bordering region are taking part in a joint meeting with a focus on enhancement of cooperation through joint cross-border cooperation projects funded by the EU’s Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA). Talks also tackle the completion and opening of the Klepalo border crossing, with financial support from the EU’s IPA instrument, the Ministry of Local Self-Government said in a press release. “The cross-border cooperation between the two countries has its continuity and is one of the most successful in the region with a full, one hundred percent realization of European Union funds. In the second IPA programme period we have implemented 73 joint projects worth a total of EUR 20 million,” Minister Milevski said. Milevski pointed out that the cooperation programme between the two ministries also includes mayors, because the cooperation between the municipalities of the two countries was an example of good neighborliness and joint building of the region’s European future. The meeting’s agenda also includes exchange of good practices and experience with IPA projects implemented in the two countries, support to municipalities within the Fund for local authorities and governments (FLAG), as well as digital transformation of municipalities. Addressing participants in the meeting, Bulgarian PM Petkov said it was in the interest of both Bulgaria and North Macedonia that there are no borders, but connected infrastructure, mayors who work together on both sides of the border, developed trade and cultural events. He stressed that all other issues, including hate speech, will then disappear, MIA’s Sofia correspondent reports. Petkov voiced hope that Bulgaria will soon be able to open North Macedonia’s path to the EU. “By joining the EU, the two countries will be able to work together without borders and restrictions,” Petkov added, pointing out that if the economies of the two neighboring countries work together, it will also be easier to resolve some long-term issues and the Balkans will begin to develop.