Sofia, November 24 (BTA) - Prime Minister Boyko Borissov met with International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Secretary General Patrick Baumann and Kosta Iliev, manager at the FIBA's National Federations department, the Council of Ministers said in a press release Thursday. Attending the meeting were Youth and Sports Minister Krassen Kralev and Lukoil Academic President Valentin Zlatev.

Borissov discussed with the FIBA representatives the conflict in European basketball between FIBA and Euroleague Commercial Assets (ECA). The lack of synchronization between their sports calendars does not allow national players participating in Euroleague matches to take part in the qualifiers of their national teams for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 and the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020.

Baumann and Iliev requested the Bulgarian PM's assistance in this issue's resolution during the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council in 2018. Borissov committed to discuss the matter with the EU heads of government and said that during the Bulgarian EU Presidency maximum efforts will be made to resolve the conflict situation.

Kralev noted that he had raised the issue at a working meeting with EU sports ministers in Brussels earlier this week. He said firmly that the European Union should act as a mediator between the FIBA and ECA.