NEWS

As of 1 January 2014 Bulgaria is taking over the rotating presidency of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation

The Bulgarian presidency of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (OBSEC) will work for adopting a project-oriented regional approach and for achieving concrete results of the OBSEC priorities in the first half of 2014. Our country is taking over the six-month rotating presidency of the regional organization as of 1 January 2014.

At the meeting held between President Rosen Plevneliev and Victor Tsvirkun, general secretary of OBSEC, who is on a visit to Bulgaria, it was emphasized that it is necessary to achieve concrete results which should be visible for the 12 member states of OBSEC. According to the Head of State, among the means to this effect are stimulating the public-private partnership between the business and the institutions, the development of tourism, the common planning and implementation of road and railway projects, as well as improving the sea connections between the countries from the Black Sea region.

The President highlighted Bulgaria’s firm support for strengthening the regional cooperation, for securing stronger links between OBSEC and the countries from the Danube Commission as well as a stronger commitment of the European Union to the Black Sea region.

Rosen Plevneliev and Victor Tsvirkun voiced their support for a better connectivity and for accelerating the trans-border transport projects. According to the President, the construction of the railway tunnel Marmaray under the Bosporus, which connects Europe and Asia via a high-speed railway link, provides great opportunities for the countries from Southeast Europe and the Black Sea region.

The general secretary of OBSEC acquainted the Head of State with the planned concrete projects, which are expected to encourage cooperation between the member states of the regional economic organization. It was also pointed out at the meeting that OBSEC will seek partnership with countries such as Japan, South Korea and China, which, according to Victor Tsvirkun, will increase the opportunities for supporting concrete projects in the Black Sea region, including those in the sphere of infrastructure.