Bulgaria to take over SEECP Chairmanship-in-Office for the period July 2015 – June 2016
20 June 2014 News
Bulgaria will take over the rotating Chairmanship-in-Office of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) for the period July 2015 - June 2016, the SEECP Foreign Ministers decided at their meeting in Bucharest on Friday.
Bulgarian Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin, who participated in the meeting, said that assuming the rotating Chairmanship-in-Office of SEECP is an honor, but also a responsibility because we have to justify the trust placed in us. Building upon the achievements of our predecessors, we will seek to enhance regional cooperation in the name of achieving our main goal - to make South-Eastern Europe a better place to live, he said.
Minister Vigenin expressed confidence that the countries of the region have the potential to increase the SEECP efficiency by focusing on project-oriented cooperation. Justice and home affairs, economy, transport and energy infrastructure, tourism, culture, among others, are possible spheres of mutual interest in which considerable progress can be achieved, he said.
Today's meeting of the SEECP Foreign Ministers is the final one in this format within the Romanian Chairmanship-in-Office. The top diplomats discussed the latest developments in the South-Eastern Europe, with focus on regional cooperation. The Foreign Ministers adopted a Joint Declaration of the Heads of States and Government of the region and approved an Annual Report of the Regional Cooperation Council 2013-2014, as well as a report on the implementation of the SEE Strategy 2020.
Addressing the forum,Minister Kristian Vigenin congratulated the Romanian Chairmanship-in-Office, which in the course of one year succeeded in putting some significant issues on the regional agenda, such as the future of SEECP, the development of parliamentary cooperation in SEE, as well as furthering the sectoral cooperation in various areas of common interest.
During the Romanian Chairmanship-in-Office, SEECP proved its role as the main political forum in SEE defending the overall principles of democracy and striving for stability and economic prosperity of our region. I’m confident that these standards will be further developed and upgraded by the following Albanian Chairmanship-in-Office of the Process, the Bulgarian Foreign Minister said.
Turning SEE into a region of political stability, economical and social prosperity is an on-going process that needs constant efforts, added Minister Vigenin. According to him, part of these efforts is the European and Euro-Atlantic integration of all countries from the region.
Regardless of some differences, we share similar history, present and future. There are numerous examples of the solidarity among our states and the real friendship among the people of our region, the Bulgarian Foreign Minister said in conclusion.
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