Bulgaria assumed the Chairmanship-in-Office of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation

On 1st of January 2019 Bulgaria assumed the Chairmanship-in-Office of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation for the period 1 January – 30 June 2019.

Under the motto “Sea of Opportunities”, the Bulgarian Chairmanship-in-Office sets as its priorities the further development of BSEC as a project-oriented organization; the continuation of the processes of reform and adaptation of the organization to the contemporary challenges; the promotion of the meaningful interaction with the EU.

The Chairmanship-in-Office of BSEC – the most representative and institutionally developed organization in the Black Sea region, is bound to certain responsibilities for our country in terms of conducting policies within the Organization. A successful realization of the Bulgarian Chairmanship shall further the development of Bulgaria’s regional foreign policy as well as the achievement of one of the national foreign policy priorities, namely activity in Bulgaria’s relations with the countries of the wider Black Sea region.

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.

During its Chairmanship-in-Office, Bulgaria shall strive for deepening of the ties between the business communities of the BSEC Member States and for the further synchronization in the work of the BSEC and its Related Bodies.
The objective of the Bulgarian Chairmanship is that the activities included in its Calendar contribute to the successful implementation of the BSEC Economic Agenda and have a practical impact on the development of the cooperation within the Organization.

Important aspect of the Chairmanship’s activity will be the energizing of the BSEC – European Union cooperation, as well as identifying concrete projects and areas of practical interaction. The coinciding Bulgarian BSEC Chairmanship-in-Office and Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2019 provide a good opportunity for further development of the BSEC – EU cooperation in a project-oriented and mutually beneficial direction, and increasing the visibility of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation in the European Union.