MAE's Senior official Grigore welcomes delegation of Bulgaria's Parliament,reiterates importance of ensuring connections in Danube region

State Secretary for Inter-Institutional Relations with the Romanian Foreign Ministry (MAE) Maria Magdalena Grigore welcomed on Tuesday a Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds (CEAOEF) of Bulgaria's Parliament, led by its president Kristian Vigenin, the MAE informs. 

According to a release sent to AGERPRES, the Romanian dignitary underscored the importance of agreeing on and implementing a joint and pragmatic cooperation agenda, with the coordination sessions at various levels representing an useful tool in harmonising approaches, in view of Romania holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU. 

By evoking a period with many challenges at European level during the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council, the special interest in increasing the connectivity between the two states was highlighted, so that the objectives aimed at regional development, with an emphasis on transport connections and energy security remain a priority, the quoted source mentions. Moreover, also pointed out were the importance of protecting the environment and increasing the communication infrastructure interconnectivity. 

The State Secretary for Inter-Institutional Relations with the MAE showed that Romania's Presidency of the EU Council, in the first half of 2019, will be carried out under the motto "Cohesion, a common European value," thus projecting the focus of the European attention on the importance of reducing economic and social disparities at the EU member states level. She also highlighted Romania's priorities during this mandate, highlighting the importance of ensuring continuity with the Bulgarian EU Council Presidency regarding the Western Balkans region. 

The Romanian official signaled the interest for boosting the European agenda set aside to the development of the Black Sea area through a common strategy, with a reference to the Common Maritime Agenda for the Black Sea, proposed in Burgas over 30 May - 1 June, and the developments in the area of blue growth in the Black Sea area. Therefore, also highlighted were the importance of ensuring connections in the Danube region, developing bilateral trade and investment and diversifying sectoral co-operation in other related areas of common interest: security, economy, business area, interpersonal contacts, the MAE release mentions. 

Maria-Magdalena Grigore showed that Romania, as chair of EU's Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR), will take action in view of boosting projects in the Danube and the Black Sea regions. Promoting the EUSDR will be reflected in the priorities of the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council. In this context, she pointed out the necessity to ensure that the Danube is navigable, in optimal conditions, throughout the year, thus contributing to the implementation of projects of this region and the Black Sea area, the release also mentions.