The top diplomats of Bulgaria and Romania: ‘EU enlargement should go on’
03 October 2017 News
The enlargement of the European Union should continue with the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership countries as this will guarantee security and stability for the entire continent. Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva and her Romanian counterpart Teodor Melescanu rallied behind the idea meeting at the Euxinograd Residence within a joint meeting of the two countries’ governments.
“We have the unique chance of the EU Council being chaired by five countries supporting the enlargement – Estonia, Austria, Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia,” Minister Zaharieva highlighted. “We should support our neighbours and friends from the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership.”
Zaharieva stressed that already within the Estonian Presidency, an informal meeting of the ministers of justice and home affairs and their counterparts of the six Western Balkan countries willing to have a full membership of the EU will be held in Sofia on October 26-27. Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister thanked Minister Melescanu for organising a meeting of the top diplomats of Bulgaria, Greece, Romania and Croatia in New York two weeks ago at which the countries agreed to support their six neighbours from the region with specific steps towards the European integration.
Minister Melescanu voiced readiness for operative cooperation with the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry during the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council so that the two countries could coordinate their positions.
The two countries discussed progress with regard to the delimitation of their maritime spaces and agreed to hold the next round of talks before the year's end. Of dredging of the Bulgarian bank of the Danube they agreed to look for solutions of mutual interest in order to ensure the river navigability. The Bulgarian side raised the issue of renewing the Bulgarian-language religious services in Romania and of compensation for the revoked Bulgarian property in the Romanian capital. Minister Melescanu undertook a commitment to seek a solution of the problem with the competent institutions.
The two ministers also discussed the fight against radicalization and efforts against terrorism, a number of issues of bilateral interest including joint projects which will ensure the connectivity between Bulgaria and Romania with regards to the economy and infrastructure.
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