Ekaterina Zaharieva: Bulgaria Will Continue To Encourage Interaction Between EU, Organisation for Black Sea Economic Cooperation
27 November 2020 News
„Bulgaria supports and will continue to encourage the further development of the interaction between the EU and the organisation for Black Sea Economic Cooperation directed at strengthening security and the sustainable development of the broader Black Sea region. We are convinced that our country’s participation in the Organisation is an important element and condition for achieving stability and economic prosperity to the benefit of all citizens of the member states.“
This was what Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva said at the 42nd meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the member states of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, which was held in a video conference format.
In the course of their discussion the ministers discussed the achievements of the organisation in the economic sphere , the possibilities for further strengthening of cooperation and efforts to continue the reforms that would better adapt the organisation to the current challenges.
Ekaterina Zaharieva highlighted the proactive approach of the Romanian Chairmanship of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, which succeeded, in spite of the COVID 19 pandemic, to maintain the high level of effectiveness of the organisation.
„The Romanian Chairmanship, with its priorities, remained focused on its ambitious program for the improvement of the region’s economic and social stability,“ she said.
Minister Zaharieva also said in her statement that Bulgaria welcomes the accession of the Republic of North Macedonia to the Black Sea Economic Cooperation and recalled that this became a fact during the Bulgarian Chairmanship of the organisation in 2019.
„This is an example of our consistent policy of developing and broadening cooperation in the region. We are convinced that we will work together for the further development of the organisation and its interaction with the EU that would facilitate efforts to tackle the challenges we are facing,“ Zaharieva said.
The Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister reconfirmed Bulgaria’s support for Nadezhda Neinski’s candidacy for Secretary General of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, pointing out that the fact that five very strong candidates are running for the post demonstrates how important this organisation is to its members.