EU’s support in developing the Black Sea region is necessary

Moldova welcomes and appreciates the EU’s interest in the Black Sea region and considers as necessary the support of the EU and European institutions in developing the region. This statement was made Monday by Valeriu Ostalep, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, at the International Conference “Regional Cooperation EU – the Black Sea”, taking place in Berlin on May 7-8. According to Ostalep, the regional cooperation is a priority of Moldova’s foreign policy that attaches great importance to the Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) and to the implementation of BSEC projects. Vice Minister Ostalep stressed the importance of the Memorandum of Understanding for the coordinated development of the Black Sea Ring Highway and the Memorandum of Understanding on the development of the Black Sea Transport Area, recently signed in Belgrade (Serbia), as part of the Meeting of BSEC Ministers of Foreign Affairs. The Conference in Berlin brings together politicians and experts from the Black Sea region and EU states, representatives of international organisations (the European Commission, Council of Europe, European Parliament, OSCE, etc.), institutions of regional cooperation, German Bundestag, businessmen and mass-media. The Conference is organised by the German Association for South Eastern Europe in concert with the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe.