site.btaBulgaria Hosts 66th PABSEC General Assembly, Hands Over Presidency to Georgia

The 66th General Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) opened in Sofia on Monday. The main theme of the two-day forum, which brings to Sofia delegations from the parliaments of the PABSEC Member States, is “Cooperation with the European Union and Other International Organisations”.

During the General Assembly, Bulgaria handed over the rotating six-month PABSEC Presidency to Georgia. Bulgaria's National Assembly Deputy Chair Dragomir Stoynev handed over the symbol of the PABSEC Presidency to Shalva Papuashvili, Chairperson of the Parliament of Georgia. He said that Georgia is taking over the PABSEC Presidency with the belief that that dialogue and cooperation lead to stability. Papuashvili assured that the efforts will be focused on connectivity. “We are ready to use the power of parliamentary democracy to build a region of opportunities,” he said. “Today, despite the many challenges, we will unite our efforts for cooperation in all areas to make our region more stable, secure, and prosperous, that is why peace is the most important condition,” said Papuashvili.

Speaking at the forum's opening, Stoynev said that strengthening cooperation with the European Parliament is one of PABSEC's priorities. “This meeting is taking place at a time when our region and the whole world are facing serious challenges, but also opportunities for cooperation,” Stoynev said. “It is no coincidence that the theme of the meeting is related to cooperation between the EU and other international regional organizations, it is dictated by the priorities of the Bulgarian Presidency, emphasizing the need for active work with European institutions. We believe that the Black Sea dimension should become an integral part of the broader European programme,” Stoynev added.

Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev said that Bulgaria remains strongly committed to strengthening security, stability and cooperation across the wider Black Sea region. He noted that amid growing challenges, enhanced regional economic partnership can lay the foundations for sustainable development, good-neighbourly relations, competitiveness and shared values. Despite the difficult situation facing , Bulgaria believes that by maintaining a focus on the Black Sea Economic Cooperation’s (BSEC) core values and mission, bridges of cooperation can be built. He stressed that achieving common goals requires support for key regional initiatives, including the Black Sea Ring Highway, the maritime highways and the development of an integrated energy market. In his view, these are strategic directions that will strengthen connectivity, energy security and economic resilience in the region and will contribute to closer interaction between BSEC and the EU. 

Petar Kanev, head of the Bulgarian National Assembly delegation to PABSEC, said the forum's theme aims to continue the Assembly's efforts towards cooperation with the European Union and other international organisations, as well as to affirm the role of parliaments in turning these opportunities into reality. "Our region has enormous economic, social, scientific, technical, and cultural potential, and its strategic location makes it an important hub for energy and transport flows," Kanev stated. “This makes it an area of strategic importance for both the EU and its member states, given their shared perspectives and challenges. That is why Bulgaria believes that intensive and pragmatic contacts between our Assembly, the European institutions, and other regional partners would greatly assist in the implementation of our regional projects," Kanev added. In his words, “it is our shared responsibility to continue strengthening these ties between countries, parliaments, and international organizations, which form the foundation of security, development, and good neighbourliness in the Black Sea region."

Kanev, who is also an MP of BSP - United Left, was re-elected PABSEC Vice-President on Monday. In his address, as quoted by his party's press centre, Kanev thanked "all of the nearly 80 MPs from 12 countries for their vote of confidence." "I take this as a high assessment of Bulgaria as one of the most active participants in PABSEC, of our delegation, and of me personally," he added.

Also on the agenda of the forum is a presentation of the activities of the BSEC, the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank, the BSEC Business Council, the International Centre for Black Sea Studies and the BSEC Union of Road Transport Associations, and the adoption of the Assembly's budget for 2026. The delegates are also expected to adopt recommendations on the economic, legal and social aspects of the use of artificial intelligence for sustainable socio-economic development in the BSEC region.

PABSEC Bureau meetings, which traditionally precede the organization's largest forum, were held in Sofia on November 23.