The participants in today’s roundtable discussion “Bulgaria-Macedonia relations: priorities common perspectives and challenges” decided to set up a unified association of border municipalities in Bulgaria and Macedonia.

The Mayor of the Bulgarian host-town of Kyustendil Petar Paunov and of Kumanovo in Macedonia Maxim Georgievski will initially lead together the association which will be open for other border municipalities.

The new association will support cooperation between local governments on both sides of the border and assist them in financing and implementation of European projects. The forum organized by MEP Andrey Kovatchev and MP Kiril Kalfin both from the ruling party Gerb made clear that 48 Bulgarian-Macedonian projects are underway.

The association is seen as a viable instrument that will enable municipalities on both sides of the border to defend their interests in dialogue with both the two country’s governments and with European institutions, and as an option for financing projects that will benefit citizens.

In 3 to 6 months roaming fees between Bulgaria and Macedonia are expected to see a manifold decrease, MEP Kovatchev said.