Bulgaria takes over presidency of Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organisation

Bulgaria assumed the six-month rotating Chairmanship-in-Office of the Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), The rotating chairmanship of the BSEC, which is the most representative and institutionally developed organization in the Black Sea region, is related to a number of responsibilities from the Bulgarian side, Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on 2^nd of January.

Under the motto "Sea of Opportunities," the Bulgarian chairmanship wewill work for the further development of BSEC as a project-oriented organization. "Bulgaria shall put a particular emphasis on the project-oriented approach towards the regional cooperation, while the priority areas of sectoral cooperation during the Bulgarian Chairmanship-in-Office will be culture, transport, and environmental protection," the statement said.

The chairmanship will also work to deepen business contacts between countries in the region but also to further enhance synergies in the work of the BSEC and its specialized bodies. These include the BSEC Parliamentary Assembly, the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank, the International Black Sea Research Centre and the Business Council.

Another priority is the continuation of the processes of reform and adaptation of the organization to the contemporary challenges, and promotion of the meaningful interaction with the European Union.

The purpose of the Bulgarian chairmanship is the activities set in the calendar for the first half of 2019 to contribute to the successful implementation of the BSEC Economic Agenda.

The successful completion of the chairmanship, which will be the fourth for Bulgaria, will contribute to the activation of the regional foreign policy of Bulgaria. This is in line with one of our national foreign policy priorities - developing active relations with the countries of the broader Black Sea region.

The BSEC was founded in 1992, with Bulgaria being among the 11 founders. Today the organization includes Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.