site.bta National Assembly Chair Presents Mechanism for Cooperation between SEE Countries, EP in Brussels

National Assembly Chair Presents Mechanism for Cooperation between SEE Countries, EP in Brussels

Brussels, March 21 (BTA) - National Assembly Chair Tsetska Tsacheva, acting in her capacity as President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), presented in Brussels on Monday the Bulgarian initiative for a permanent cooperation mechanism between the European Parliament (EP) and the SEECP Parliamentary Assembly, the National Assembly said in a press release.
 
Tsacheva presented the initiate at a meeting of parliamentarians from Southeastern Europe ahead of an exchange of views within the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs on the situation in the region and inter-parliamentary cooperation. 

Bulgaria proposes that the EP and the SEECP Parliamentary Assembly elaborate a joint document which would set the foundations of a sustainable and comprehensive permanent model of cooperation in areas of key importance for the region, such as: migration policies; integrated policy on judicial cooperation and combating transnational organized crime; economic management, competitiveness and connectivity in the spheres of energy and transport; monitoring of the implementation of energy efficiency policies and of the financial aid under EU funds and programmes; stronger democratic institutions and reform in the public administration; social development, education and science.

In Tsacheva's words, the SEE countries are faced with common risks and threats caused by the processes of transformation and confrontation in the Black Sea Region, the Middle East and North Africa. A shared prospect for their effective overcoming is needed, Tsacheva said. She went on to present the SEECP Parliamentary Assembly's position in favour of common European norms and rules that would guarantee the sustainable solution of immigration problems. As primary priorities both for the EU and the region of Southeastern Europe Tsacheva listed: energy and transport connectivity; the creation of a liberalized energy market; and the construction of priority transport corridors.