ForMin Melescanu on meeting Bulgarian and Greek counterparts: Opportunity to take on commitment to strengthen European project

Foreign Affairs Minister Teodor Melescanu stated on Monday, at the end of the meeting at foreign affairs ministers level of the Romania-Bulgaria-Greece Trilateral cooperation format, that this meeting represented an opportunity to assume the commitment regarding the strengthening of the European project.

"The discussions focused on a couple of elements relevant to us, the Western Balkans and the Eastern Neighbourhood, and we are to continue discussing at noon over the Black Sea and the Middle East. Our meeting was an opportunity to reconfirm the shared will of the three countries regarding the boosting of political dialogue in this trilateral format and assuming the commitment regarding the strengthening of the European project," the Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister told a joint news conference with Bulgaria's Foreign Affairs Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva and Greece's Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Kotzias.

Furthermore, Melescanu stated that the three countries endorse a "solid policy" of the European Union in the Eastern Neighbourhood and grant a "wider" support for the relationships between these countries and the EU. "We refer to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Our strategic objective is maintaining the commitment towards our eastern partners, for ensuring in the Eastern Neighbourhood a stable, safe and prosperous space, attached to European principles," Melescanu mentioned.

He added that he is to have an exchange of views with his Bulgarian and Greek counterparts about the Black Sea and the Danube.

"I want to hail the Bulgarian Presidency's intention to promote this region at the EU level during this semester when holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU. We also aim at continuing this initiative during our presidency [of the EU Council]. We will focus also on connection issue between the Danube and the Black Sea, the fundamental idea being the endorsement of a Danube regional macro-strategy to be funded by the European Union," Melescanu stated.

The talks will also focus on the prospects for the Middle East negotiation and peace, Melescanu underlining that they represent "a priority" on the EU agenda.

In her turn, Ekaterina Zaharieva mentioned that in respect to the Danube strategy, the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU focuses on culture and tourism, but also on the connectivity between the Danube and the Black Sea.

"Many times we have discussed on a European level if there should be a special funding for regional strategies, as the Danube strategy is, and whether or not the lack of the specially designed funding doesn't lead to a slower development. (...) And during our Presidency, but especially during Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU, taking into account the future financial framework, I believe it's best that this issue be discussed again," Zaharieva stated.

Furthermore, she expressed her wish for Bulgaria and Romania to enter the Schengen area. "It is time that the two countries finally become Schengen member countries. It's important for the security, not only for Bulgaria and Romania, but also for other EU member states," Ekaterina Zaharieva stated.

Minister Nikos Kotzias voiced his support for Romania's and Bulgaria's integration in Schengen.

"I want to express my support for Romania's and Bulgaria's integration in Schengen and we will feel much safer and better in Europe if they [Romania and Bulgaria] will join us in the Schengen area. I want to thank the Bulgarian Presidency and I want to wish much success to the future Romanian Presidency [of the EU Council]. Today, when we discuss about enlarging the EU, we should also think about how this European integration can be deepened," Greece's Foreign Affairs Minister added. AGERPRES (RO - author: Madalina Cerban, editor: Florin Marin; EN - author: Rodica State, editor: Adina Panaitescu)