29.04.2022
To make the river Danube a key transport corridor for Europe will be a common task for Bulgaria and Romania. This was an outcome of the meeting of Prime Minister Kiril Petkov with Romanian’s Prime Minister Nicolae Ionel Ciucă.
Starting next week a joint workgroup with members from both countries will begin a fast-track discussion on infrastructure projects that will make the river Danube open to vessels all the year round. The group will consider, inter alia, the possibilities to build a second bridge at Rousse and another four bridges along the river, in addition to the dredging of the waterway. These initiatives will promote economic development and prosperity in the region, said Prime Minister Kiril Petkov. Mrs. Adina Vălean, European Commissioner for Transport, supported regional cooperation and stressed the great potential of the river Danube in the context of the need for new export corridors.
Cooperation in the energy sector was likewise a focus in the Petkov-Ciucă talks. Bulgaria’s Prime Minister was firm that joint efforts would make it easier to address the risks arising from the energy crisis. A forthcoming meeting on energy in Sofia is to map out specific measures to optimize the energy systems.
It is important that Bulgaria and Romania be good neighbors and also good partners, said Prime Minister Kiril Petkov as he added that the fulfilment of the tasks assigned will be reported in September at a government-to-government meeting.
Prime Ministers Petkov and Ciucă reiterated that the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen Area would be a huge priority. The government leaders pledged again their firm support for the European path of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia.
