The Danube region is extremely important for ensuring the economic progress and connectivity of the European citizens. The development of this region should not remain in the shadows, because it is a region of key importance for trade, transport and cultural exchanges of the European countries located along the Danube . This was the message Head of State Rumen Radev conveyed at a joint news conference with the Heads of State of Austria Alexander Van der Bellen and of Romania Klaus Iohannis.
The three Presidents met in the town located along the Danube to discuss how to achieve continuity on key priorities within their rotating presidencies of the EU Council, which will take place consecutively by mid-2019.
“The European Union is facing a lot of challenges regarding security – military, technological, informational and cultural. Only with a long-term vision, clear priorities, and by pooling efforts can we cope with these challenges,” the President said. Rumen Radev voiced conviction that today’s dialogue will give an impetus to continuity and consistency in the work on key priorities of the three countries’ rotating presidencies.
“The six-month Presidency of the EU Council, which our three countries will hold consecutively, is not a short period, yet it is not long enough to complete our work on our major goals. To implement the EU’s global strategy, we need good coordination and a gradual transition to the priorities of the next country,” the Head of State further said.
In the President’s words, at the meetings between the three Heads of State major topics concerning Europe’s future were discussed among which were security, granting asylum and controlling migration, the integration of the Western Balkans and the role of Cohesion policy in the next Multiannual EU financial framework.
Rumen Radev identified the role of the town of Ruse as symbolic for conducting the dialogue format between Bulgaria, Austria and Romania. “Ruse is the biggest Bulgarian Danube town and it has a European appearance and history,” the President said and added that the dynamic development of the Danube region is a factor that is extremely important for the whole European Union.
The three Presidents shared the opinion that the efficient implementation of the EU Danube strategy by providing more funds and implementing concrete projects serves the interest of the three countries.
“The Danube river has connected its upper, middle and lower river valleys for centuries. During the Cold War this connection was severed and it is our duty now to restore it and to raise the ties between the people to a new, up-to-date level,“ the President was adamant. Rumen Radev further noted that that it is namely along the Danube river valleys that some of the most developed, but also least developed EU regions are located and called for efficient coordination and efforts on the European level whereby these disbalances will be overcome as soon as possible. “Bulgaria, Austria and Romania have the unique chance and responsibility to work so as to strengthen the implementation of the Danube strategy,” the Head of State said.
“United Europe that has a common cause is near to its citizens. What is essential is that we maintain our European values because it is only through them that we can solve the crises and make an efficient progress on the dossiers of our mutual interest,” Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said at the joint news conference. “The Danube strategy was launched with great optimism and potential in 2011, although some of its goals have been achieved, others still remain on the level of intentions,” the Romanian Head of State said and called for realizing the potential of the region.
Austrian President Van der Bellen said that the three countries share similar goals and are facing a lot of common challenges. He highly appreciated the role our country has in strengthening the Western Balkans’ European prospects and identified the 2020-2025 period as a realistic period for taking practical steps to ensure the EU accession of the countries from the region.
Earlier the three Heads of State held trilateral and bilateral meetings and took part in a conference with youths and students from Bulgaria and Romania in the University of Ruse. The Head of State also held talks with mayors and representatives of the local authorities of Bulgarian and Romanian towns located along the Danube river.