site.btaFive Documents and Ministerial Meetings on Sidelines of Bulgaria-Romania Joint Government Meeting

Varna, on the Black Sea, October 3 (BTA) - On the sidelines of a joint meeting of the governments of Bulgaria and Romania on Tuesday, the two sides held bilateral meetings on ministerial level and signed five cooperation documents.

Cooperation in social policy

Bulgarian Social Policy Minister Bisser Petkov and his Romanian counterpart, Lia Olguta Vasilescu, signed a declaration of cooperation in social policy. The document declares the will and readiness of the two sides for joint action in exchange of information and experience in the field of youth employment, labour mobility, child protection policies, health and safety at work, gender equality and fight against domestic violence.

The two countries will exchange good practices and measures against undeclared labour. Cooperation will include joint inspections of the Bulgarian and Romanian employment inspectorates. The document also provides for joint action of the two countries' employment agencies, as well as for exchange of experience in the field of social inclusion.

Commenting the newly signed agreement, Romanian Prime Minister Mihai Tudose said that ways should be explored for the countries to provide mutual assistance. Both countries complain of problems with skilled, agricultural and tourism workers.

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov of Bulgaria said that in order to resolve the problem, the Bulgarian business should increase wages.

Foreign Ministers: EU Enlargement Should Continue

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. Bulgaria, Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva and her Romanian counterpart Teodor Melescanu rallied behind the idea.

The two discussed progress with regard to the delimitation of the two countries' 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 the two sides agreed to look for solutions of mutual interest in order to ensure the river navigability.

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.

Joint priorities for upcoming EU Presidency

The line ministers of the two countries discussed the joint priorities during the upcoming EU Presidencies of Bulgaria and Romania. Liliyana Pavlova, the Bulgarian Minister of the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council and the Romanian Minister for European Affairs, Victor Negrescu, looked at opportunities for partnerships between the two countries and the key areas of shared interest: the financial framework and the future of the cohesion policy after the Brexit, migration and security, and the debate on the future of Europe.

Among the highlights of the talks was the key priority of the Bulgarian Presidency, which Romania fully supports: connectivity among the Balkan countries and the European prospects of the neighbouring countries. The two ministers also discussed ways of pushing forward in the EU agenda the Danubean and the Black Sea regions.

Working meeting between the Interior Ministers

A working meeting was held between the two Interior Ministers, Carmen Dan of Romania and Roumen Radev of Bulgaria. They agreed that the two countries should work together towards entry in the visa-free Schengen area. They also discussed issues connected with the upcoming Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council. Radev said that he relies on Romania's support for revisions to the Dublin Agreement which will likely be discussed during the Bulgarian Presidency.

The two ministers also signed a protocol between their ministries for enforcing an intergovernmental agreement on readmission of own citizens and foreigners. All land border crossings and the Sofia and Bucharest airports will be used for the purpose of readmission.

Construction of new cross-Danube bridge discussed

The two Regional Development Ministers, Nikolai Nankov of Bulgaria and Sevil Shhaideh of Romania, discussed the construction of a new bridge across the Danube called for by the steadily growing international traffick of people and goods, and the wish for development of the transport infrastructure of the two countries. On the agenda of talks was also the implementation of the Interreg V-A Romania - Bulgaria Programme and the two sides found a progress there.

Cooperation in dealing with power supply disturbances

Bulgaria's Electricity System Operator and Romania's Transelectrica national transmission operator signed an agreement on exchange of power supply during emergencies. Bulgarian Energy Minister Temenouzhka Petkova and Romanian counterpart Toma Petcu were adamant that the agreement reconfirms the readiness of the two countries to merge their energy exchanges. The agreement takes effect from its signing and is valid until tne end of 2018. It says that emergency power supply will be provided within an hour of the request.

The two countries also signed an agreement on safe navigation in the shared Black Sea region whereby the two countries undertake to accommodate ships in distress.

Before the signing of the agreement, Transport Minister Ivaylo Moskovski of Bulgaria and the Romanian Ministers of Transport, Alexandru Cuc, and of Communications and Information Society, Lucian Sova, held a working meeting. Moskovski said there that Bulgaria fully supports the participation of Romania in the multimodal corridor from Thessaloniki to Kavala, Alexandroupolis, Bourgas, Varna and Rousse. The ministers also discussed the progress of the joint project Danube Safety Net and the maintenance of the common stretch of the Danube. Moskovski briefed his counterparts on the priorities in the telecoms sector of the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council.

A memorandum on understanding and cooperation was also signed between the InvestBulgaria Agency and the Romanian Ministry of Business Environment, Commerce and Entrepreneurship. The two sides will exchange information in areas including the attraction of investment (such as information about potential business partners), statistical data, analyses, results from market studies and information about regulatory measures.