Senate/ Tariceanu at trilateral Romania-Bulgaria-Serbia: Danube Strategy - very useful project for our countries

The great importance that Romania, as a co-initiator, attaches to the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) and the opportunity to relaunch it, especially in the context of our country's exercising at the same time the presidency of presidency and the presidency of the Council of the EU, were highlighted on Wednesday by the Senate head, Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, at the trilateral meeting of the Foreign Policy Committees - Romania, Bulgaria and Serbia.

Tariceanu has stated that Romania will act in the next period to increase the degree of European cohesion, including by promoting a unified approach on the two levels of responsibility: achieving the objectives of the EUSDR and adopting the conclusions of the EU Council on the implementation of the macro-regional strategies.

"My colleagues from Bulgaria and Serbia have talked a lot about the Danube Strategy, a project we have started and which I think would be very useful for our individual countries and for the possibilities of cooperation. Today I told my colleagues from Bulgaria that I would like us to make a lot of progress with regard to the negotiations on the amendment of the treaty for the Danube border and the obligations we have in order to start the works to restore the Danube's navigability throughout the year. The Danube, as a navigable river, is very important for the development of both countries. The Danube Strategy projects, such as a second road bridge in Giurgiu, the Turnu Magurele bridge, possibly the Danube hydroelectric power station at Izlaz, a project that has very old roots. There are other important projects that can be thought of on the Danube, namely the Danube ports. I have talked about this with Serbia as well. Even if it is still a candidate country for the EU, the Danube Strategy will allow us to think about cooperation projects with Serbia," Tariceanu stressed.

The President of the Senate added that another issue approached during the event was Romania's wish for the enlargement of the European Union to be among the priorities of the rotating presidency of the EU Council.

"Montenegro is now the most advanced Balkan country, and Serbia has informed us that it has opened two more negotiation chapters and is ready with yet another five negotiating chapters. The Balkan region must become a region of security, prosperity, democracy and freedom for all its countries and citizens," Tariceanu said.

Tariceanu attended on Wednesday the opening of the Third Trilateral Meeting of the Foreign Policy Committees of the Romanian Senate, the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria and the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, an event hosted by the Senate.