The cooperation between Romania and Bulgaria in the pre-accession period not only accelerated their joint path to EU membership, but also fostered stronger ties, said Catalin Radoi, Deputy Head of Mission at the Romanian Embassy in Bulgaria, during the Europe in the Balkans: Together through Knowledge conference in Veliki Preslav on Friday.
"We worked together, not competing with each other, and this should be a good example for the countries of the Western Balkans", he noted. Radoi pointed out that the cohesion policy of the Balkans has a transformative effect on the region, with benefits such as improved infrastructure, better governance and closer integration with the EU for the countries concerned.
Radoi said that in the last decade, the Romanian-Bulgarian border region has changed for the better precisely through cooperation between the two countries, such as within the framework of the INTERREG Romania-Bulgaria programme, under which more than EUR 200 million are planned for a more connected, more ecological, more educated and more integrated region in the 2021-2027 period.
"The cooperation of partners on both sides of the border has helped create jobs while improving citizens' access to transportation and health services and the ability of authorities to protect the environment and respond to emergencies," Radoi underscored.
Radoi also noted the mutual complementarity of the portfolios of the Bulgarian and Romanian nominees for European Commissioners, Roxana Minzatu as Commissioner for People, Skills and Preparedness, and Ekaterina Zaharieva as Commissioner for Research and Innovation. He described them as two strong ladies who know the Western Balkans well, and expressed confidence that they will play a decisive role for key sectors in the region.
The Europe in the Balkans: Together through Knowledge project is a continuation of the Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future and Europe in Bulgaria: A Common Future projects, implemented by BTA in 2023 and 2024, respectively. The main objective of the project will be to provide objective and comprehensive information and an accurate overall picture of the European Union's cohesion policy in all Bulgarian regions. Special emphasis will be placed on skills and knowledge as an engine for regional development.
As part of the project, in the period from November 2024 to September 2025, BTA will organize discussions in its regional press clubs in the following cities: Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Gabrovo, Dobrich, Kazanlak, Kardjali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik , Pernik, Petrich, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Samokov, Svishtov, Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofia, Stara Zagora, Troyan, Targovishte, Haskovo, Shumen and Yambol. BTA will also hold cross-border conferences in Belgrade, Bosilegrad, Bucharest, Edirne, Skopje and Thessaloniki.
