The road of the EU to the Western Balkans goes through Bulgaria and the Bulgarian communities in the Balkans, Bulgaria’s Vice President Iliana Yotova pointed out during the opening of the international conference Bulgarian Communities in the Western Balkans-Key factor of Countries’ EU Accession held in Sofia. Vice President Yotova regretted that the Bulgarian communities abroad were not made part of the programme of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. However, it is important for Bulgaria to keep its leading role in the process of the European integration of the countries of the Western Balkans after the end of the EU Presidency, Iliana Iotova pointed out.