Abolishing land border controls in the Schengen area has no alternative and is a common priority for Bulgaria and Romania, which the two countries should continue to cooperate to achieve. Head of State Rumen Radev and Romanian Foreign Minister Luminica Odobescu agreed on this position. The two held a meeting in Sofia as part of the minister's official visit to Bulgaria.

Radev and Odobescu agreed that Bulgaria and Romania had met all the technical conditions for Schengen accession, so concrete guarantees and a clear deadline were needed to open the land borders as soon as possible. Concerted efforts in this regard should continue to be a priority for both countries.

The two discussed cooperation in various areas of reciprocal interest. They noted that the Declaration on Strategic Partnership between Bulgaria and Romania, signed last March by Presidents Radev and Iohannis, had contributed to the expansion of bilateral cooperation in a number of areas. Improving the infrastructure, transport and energy connectivity between the two countries is of prime importance for tackling the challenges in the region, President Radev said at the meeting. The implementation of a number of projects, including the construction of a new bridge over the Danube, a ferry link between Ruse and Giurgiu, and the improvement of navigation conditions in the Danube, will contribute in this direction. Romania is one of Bulgaria's leading trading partners in the EU, and active work on the development of our infrastructure connectivity is of interest not only to the citizens of the two countries, but also to Europe, Rumen Radev said.

During the meeting, the common responsibility of Bulgaria and Romania for security in the Black Sea region and the partnership within NATO were discussed.