site.btaBulgaria, Romania Start Dialogue on Joint Projects under Juncker Plan

Bulgaria, Romania Start Dialogue on Joint Projects under Juncker Plan


Bucharest, January 15 (BTA) - Bulgaria and Romania are starting
a dialogue on joint projects under the European Commission's
investment plan known as the Juncker Plan, the Bulgarian
Government Information Service said on Thursday. Agreement on
this was reached on Thursday between Bulgarian Deputy Prime
Minister for European Policy and Institutional Affairs Meglena
Kuneva and Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta.

Kuneva, who is paying a two-day working visit to Romania on
January 15 and 16, had an unscheduled meeting with Ponta at his
request. The Romanian head of government wished success to the
new Bulgarian Government and extended an invitation to a joint
meeting of the two countries' cabinets in Bucharest as soon as
possible.

The two found that Bulgaria and Romania have markedly common
interests within the European Union, which must be fleshed out
with tangible content. "The two countries are stronger within
the community when they work on an enhanced partnership mode,"
Kuneva emphasized.

European security policy was also on the agenda. The sides
agreed that Bulgaria and Romania can contribute to Europe's
security and are ready to meet all conditions for this,
including through Schengen.

At a session between the Bulgarian Deputy PM and Romanian
Economy, Trade and Tourism Minister Mihai Tudose, the sides
agreed on the formation of an intergovernmental working group to
 draft, within a short time, joint energy and infrastructure
project proposals under the Juncker Plan. The idea is to have
the proposals ready for consideration at the joint meeting of
the two cabinets. The creation of a joint investment mechanism
for these projects was discussed as well, along with the
possibility of the two countries making a shared contribution to
 the European Strategic Investment Fund which is to be
established shortly under the Plan.

Kuneva also conferred with Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan
Aurescu and his Deputy, George Ciamba. They focused on the
international situation and the impact of the new international
security threats on Bulgaria and Romania and on Europe at large.

Later in the day, the Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister is
scheduled for appointments with Romanian European Funds Minister
 Eugen Teodorovici and with Vice Prime Minister and Regional
Development and Public Administration Minister Liviu Deragnea.