Bulgaria and Romania are starting talks on joint projects under the European Commission's Investment Plan for Europe known as “the Juncker Plan”.

The launch of negotiations on the topic was agreed Thursday at a meeting of Meglena Kuneva, Deputy Prime Minister for European Policies Coordination and Institutional Affairs, and Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta, according to the press office of the Bulgarian government.

Kuneva, who is on a two-day working visit to Romania, had an unscheduled meeting with Ponta at his request.

The Romanian Prime Minister extended an invitation to the Bulgarian government for an intergovernmental sitting in Bucharest as soon as possible.

Kuneva and Ponta agreed that Bulgaria and Romania had common interests within the EU which had to be narrowed down.

Kuneva pointed out that the two countries were stronger when they worked in a regime of intensified partnership.

The security policy was also discussed during the meeting, with Kuneva and Ponta reaching agreement on the idea that Bulgaria and Romania could contribute to Europe’s security and were ready to fulfill all requirements for the purpose, including via Schengen.

During a meeting with Romania’s Economy Minister Mihai Tudose, Kuneva negotiated the creation of an intergovernmental working group which would be tasked with drafting concrete proposals for joint projects in the sphere of energy and infrastructure under the Juncker Plan.

Kuneva and Tudose noted that the aim was to have the proposals ready for the intergovernmental sitting.

The issue of creating a common investment mechanism for these projects was also on the agenda of the meeting, as well as the possibility of Bulgaria and Romania making a joint contribution to the European Structural and Investment Funds.

Kuneva also met with Romania’s Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu and his Deputy, George Ciamba, to exchange views on the international situation and the impact of the new threats to international security on Bulgaria and Romania and Europe as a whole.

Later on Thursday, Kuneva is to meet with Romania’s EU Funds Minister Eugen Teodorovici and Regional Development Minister Liviu Dragnea.

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