Parliament Deputy Chair: BSEC Parliamentary Assembly Seeks Stronger Cooperation with European Parliament

Risida Dimitrova, Nelly Zheleva

Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation hosted by the National Assembly, Sofia, November 24, 2025 (BTA Photo/Vladimir Shokov)

Sofia,

24.11.2025 11:27

(BTA)

Strengthening cooperation with the European Parliament is one of the priorities of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC), Bulgaria's National Assembly Deputy Chair Dragomir Stoynev said at the opening of the 66th General Assembly PABSEC in Sofia.

The Parliament of Georgia assumed the next rotating six-month presidency. Dragomir Stoynev handed over the symbol of the PABSEC presidency to Shalva Papuashvili, Chairperson of the Parliament of Georgia.

“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.

European integration has opened up new horizons for Bulgaria, Stoynev said. “As parliamentarians, we must create conditions for stability and innovation, green energy, and infrastructure that connects our nations,” he stated.

The activities of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (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 are to be presented to the participants in the meeting. The election of PABSEC vice-presidents and the adoption of the Assembly's budget for 2026 are also on the agenda.

The delegates are 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.

/DD/