Reunion on Danube Strategy in November in Bucharest

Romanian Foreign Affairs minister Teodor Baconschi declared on Friday that representatives of 14 states will arrive in Bucharest, in November, at the end of the reflection process and at the writing of the Danube Strategy. He expressed his hope that EC President Jose Manuel Barroso will join the event.

'The EU strategy for the Danube region is a promising enough Romanian-Austrian strategy. There are large funds in the offing. Fourteen states which, at the end of the process of reflecting on and drawing up the strategy, will gather in Bucharest in November. We hope Mr President of the EC [Jose Manuel Barroso] will come too and we hope that, next year, once the EC adopts this document, we shall start a historical and regional mini-process in which the Danube should become again a factor meant to provide regional unification, not separation,' said the Romanian chief diplomat on Friday.

Minister Baconschi on Friday attended the conference dealing with 'Romania's Priorities in EU: Prospects for 2020,' which was organized at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE). On this occasion the Minister pointed to the successes and weak spots of the Romanian diplomacy.

News source: Actmedia link: article

Romania and Bulgaria to jointly develop energy projects

The Act Media quoted Mr Gheorghi Parvanov President of Bulgaria in a joint press conference with his Romanian counterpart Mr Traian Basescu, as saying that Romania and Bulgaria have great cooperation potential in the energy field.
One of the topics approached by the two heads of state within their talks was the construction of one or two hydro electrical stations on the Danube. These stations could be located in Calarasi Silistra and in Turnu Magurele Nicopole. According to the two presidents, these projects could be included in the European Union Strategy for the Danube and benefit of European financing.

The two officials also discussed about the inter-connection of the two countries gas systems. Mr Parvanov highlighted the importance of this project and gave the example of the gas crisis in 2009, when Bulgaria was not able to receive gas from Romania, being the worst affected country in Europe in the wake of Russia Ukraine dispute.


news source: Steel Guru link: article