The International Conference “Synergies between Black Sea and Northern Europe Cooperation: Exchange – Enhance – Elaborate” will take place in Bucharest, on the 27th of April 2007. The conference is organized by the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the aegis of the Black Sea Forum for Dialogue and Partnership, launched in Bucharest, on the 5th of June 2006.

The Conference represents one of the elements of the Black Sea Forum follow up projects, along with other initiatives that have gathered the interest of the region, in fields like the civil emergencies management, inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue, environment protection and civil society capacity building. These projects will be developed within the next half a year.

Considering the success of regional cooperation in Northern Europe, which stands today as the “The Nordic Dimension of EU”, the discussions will focus on exchanging of experiences between the regions, on common priorities, lessons learned, successful projects and ways of engaging the EU, for the long-term benefit of both the EU and the states and societies of the Black Sea region.

The conference takes place shortly after the European Commission issued the communication regarding “The Black Sea Synergy – a new initiative of regional cooperation”. The document paves the way for a higher involvement of EU in the region and mentions the Black Sea Forum for Dialogue and Partnership as one of the relevant mechanisms for the development of regional cooperation, in relation with the EU. The Commission approach corresponds to the Romanian policy objectives in the Black Sea area, followed constantly by the Romanian diplomacy through coordinated actions during the past few years at all levels, thus proving the potential of Romania as a contributor to shaping EU policies.

The Conference brings together high representatives and experts of the organizations and initiatives from Northern Europe and the Black Sea region, among whom Leonidas Chrysantopoulos, Secretary General of BSEC, Berit Brørby Vice-President of The Nordic Council, next to representatives of European Commission, European Bank of Investments, BERD and OECD.

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