Having assumed the rotating Chairmanship of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC) for the second half of 2010, the Greek government has outlined its goals and priorities.

Given that the main aim of the BSEC is to help bolster regional cooperation in the broader region, the chairmanship is focused on the thematic area of green development (“Black Sea turns Green”).

Initiatives move along two main axes. The first consists in promoting two major investment projects on regional infrastructure works (Black Sea Highway Ring and Motorways of the Sea).

The second has to do with the financing of regional development projects, through the newly established BSEC-Hellenic Development Fund, aimed at innovative projects with an emphasis on alternative energy sources and green development and entrepreneurship.

At the same time, the Chairmanship will seek to strengthen cooperation between the BSEC and the European Union, particularly through the promotion of the European initiative on Black Sea Synergy.

Western Balkans High-Level Meeting

Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas is in Sarajevo today, to take part in the European Union – Western Balkans High-Level Meeting, organized by the Spanish EU Presidency, the main objectives of which are:

-to review the progress made within the framework of the Stabilisation and Association Process governing the EU’s relations with Western Balkan countries

-reaffirm the EU’s commitment to their European perspective, on condition that they fulfil the criteria and prerequisites that have been set.

Greek News Agenda: Western Balkans – A Greek initiative & Ministry of Foreign Affairs:  EU: Need for ambitious decisions on the Western Balkans