Financiarul

Romania has constantly endorsed cross border cooperation between the Central European Initiative’s member states, which represented a useful exercise of promotion of the joint European and Euro-Atlantic interests and aspirations, said on Thursday, interim foreign affairs minister Catalin Predoiu, in a news conference after the meeting of the ministers of foreign affairs of the organisation’s member countries.

‘The meeting’s agenda included debates on the situation in the region, mainly pertaining to the European integration, strengthening of regional cooperation, cooperation with the European Union and the finding of measures for curbing the consequences of the global economic crisis on the region,’ said Catalin Predoiu.
He said that during Romania’s presidency of the Central European Initiative, Romania has constantly supported cross border cooperation between member states, stressing that this aspect has represented a useful exercise for the promotion of joint European and Euro-Atlantic interests.

Predoiu said that the experience gained so far proved that a range of political, economic and security problems may be approached differently and solved in a relatively homogenous framework, with certain cohesion and experience on joint development.
In this respect, he voiced confidence that the European Union’s Strategy for the Danube will contribute to the strengthening of cooperation in this region and the inter-European connection.

‘Romania has been promoting, alongside other EU partner countries, a strategy for the Danube region. We are confident that the EU strategy for the Danube will contribute to the cooperation’s strengthening in the region and to the inter-European connection, expanding the geographic area of cooperation to the enlarged Black Sea region. I consider that the active participation in the regional cooperation is an essential step towards a solid European Union and stable neighbourhood,’ said Catalin Predoiu.

The Central European Initiative Summit is unfolding in Bucharest on Thursday and Friday, gathering premiers and foreign ministers of the 18 members states, as well, as high-level representatives of international financial institutions.
Over January 1-December 31, 2009, Romania holds the presidency of the Central European Initiative. This is Romania’s first term-in-office since its memberships in 1996 and the first presidency of a structure of regional cooperation held ad EU member state.