Romania-Bulgaria-Greece trilateral

The energy interconnection in the southern region of the European Union will significantly contribute to the reconstruction of Ukraine after the war, the Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu stated in Varna.

Roxana Vasile, 10.10.2023, 13:50

Energy interconnection is the secret of better services and prices for our citizens, but it will also lead to the reconstruction of Ukraine – the Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Tuesday in Varna, on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. He represented Romania at a meeting with counterparts from Bulgaria and Greece, which was also attended by representatives of the European Commission. The Romanian PM also wanted to emphasize that Romania was not currently importing gas, being energy independent, which is desirable, as soon as possible, for the whole of Europe.

Marcel Ciolacu reviewed what was discussed at the trilateral meeting in Varna, in a press conference: “I would like to emphasize the need to build a new bridge on the Danube, between Giurgiu and Ruse, and also the need to increase the navigation capacity on the Danube, the Fast Danube project. In the case of both projects, together with Commissioner Vălean, we are trying, through the funds available to the European Council, to speed them up and meet the necessary deadlines. Also in the context of interconnectivity, we have also shown the challenges we face on the energy market, with a particular focus on supply security.

Besides the importance of the start of negotiations for EU accession with Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, the three Romanian, Bulgarian and Greek prime ministers also tackled the objective of solving the case of Romanias and Bulgarias accession to the Schengen Area. Romania complies with the accession criteria and wants that, in the next period, applied talks should take place with the two states – Austria and the Netherlands – which are still opposed to this approach – said Marcel Ciolacu.

The Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, welcomed the European initiative of the railway corridor from the Baltic and Black Seas to the Aegean Sea. And the Bulgarian Prime Minister, Nikolai Denkov, stated that Romania, Bulgaria and Greece want to join efforts to reach the level of development of rich European countries and be an example for the neighboring countries. The three officials also signed an agreement to increase trilateral cooperation in South-Eastern Europe.

The document is meant to improve energy, digital and transport connectivity between Romania, Bulgaria and Greece, with a possible extension to the Republic of Moldova. The trilateral in Varna was the second in this format, after a previous first meeting in Athens, and the Prime Minister Ciolacu expressed hope that the next meeting will take place in Romania. (LS)