The section of Bulgaria's Trakiya Highway between Nova Zagora and Stara Zagora was officially opened on Sunday.

"The construction of highways will yield its results over the following years," Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov told journalists during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The 32-km highway stretch was completed ahead of term and is to allow Bulgarians to get to the seaside 20 minutes faster.

Borisov revealed that another section of the highway, the one connecting Nova Zagora and Yambol, will be opened within 12 days.

European Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn, President Rosen Plevneliev and several of the country's cabinet members (Transport Minister Ivaylo Moskovski, Regional Development Minister Lilyana Pavlova and Agriculture Minister Miroslav Naydenov) also attended the ceremony.

The Trakiya Highway has been scheduled for completion in February 2013, when the last contract for EU funding for the project expires.

The construction of the Trakiya Highway costs EUR 362.5 M, of which EUR 286.2 is EU funding.