Tariceanu-Glavchev meeting: Strengthening bilateral political dialogue, economic relations and cooperation in defence - on agenda of talks

Senate President Calin Popescu-Tariceanu met with President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria Dimitar Borisov Glavchev, during the latter's official visit to Romania and discussed such topics as parliamentary cooperation and topics specific to parliamentary diplomacy in view of strengthening the bilateral political dialogue, the economic relations and cooperation on security and defence issues, according to a press release of the Senate sent to AGERPRES on Monday. 

The Senate President underscored the special potential the partnership within the European Union represents for the development of joint projects financed from European funds, and also within the EU Strategy for the Danube region, in domains of interest such as infrastructure, energy security, culture and tourism, informs the release. 

"In this regard, the importance of the works of the High Level Cooperation Council [the joint sitting of the two governments] was reiterated and the organisation of the fourth session of this bilateral cooperation instrument in Varna, 30 October 2017 was saluted. The two high dignitaries reviewed the topics on the common sectoral cooperation agenda, such as connectivity across the Danube, the maintenance of river navigation, economic cooperation and exploitation of hydrocarbons in the Black Sea's continental shelf, cooperation in the energy domain through the BRUA project [gas pipeline project -ed.n.], the development of tourism," the release further reads. 

As regards interparliamentary dialogue, both parties expressed their wish to intensify cooperation in the European business domain, considering that Bulgaria is due to take over the rotational Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first semestre of 2018, followed closely by Romania, a year later. 

According to the release, the Romanian dignitary highlighted that as countries that will ensure the coordination of positions at European level in view of adopting the decisions that will determine the future of the EU, Romania and Bulgaria must act, both in relation to the member states and to the European Commission, so as to uphold the shaping of a Europe characterised by unity, solidarity and cohesion." 

The two parties praised the recent meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committees of Romania's, Bulgaria's and Serbia's Parliaments within the second Trilateral Meeting that took place in Belgrade (6-8 November 2017), with Senate President Tariceanu emphasising that members of the national Romanian and Bulgarian minorities represent "bridges between the two states", and for Romania, the mutual protection of ethnic, linguistic and cultural identity represent a priority objective of the bilateral relations. 

"The two dignitaries also discussed about the significance and importance of Romania's and Bulgaria's participation. alongside the other NATO member states on the eastern flank, in the regular consultations of the Bucharest Format (B9) and its extension with a parliamentary pillar. The Senate President pointed out that the organisation of the Bucharest Format (B9) parliamentary Summit in the first part of next year will broaden the scope of the consultations on matters of defence and regional security and will contribute to the demarches carried out at executive level in view of strengthening the allied presence at the Black Sea, with benefits for the entire European and Euro-Atlantic space," the release also mentions. 

Attending the meeting on behalf of Romania's Senate were the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Cristian-Sorin Dumitrescu and senators Dan Marciu, Ionut Sibinescu and Csaba-Zoltan Novak.