A delegation consisting of Ambassador Ivan Petkov, Special Representative of the Bulgarian Chairmanship-in-Office, Mr. Svilen Kraychev, Head of the Bulgarian PABSEC Delegation, and Mr. Alexander Furman, PABSEC Deputy Secretary General, paid a working visit to Brussels on 19-20 March 2010. During the visit, the delegation presented BSEC and PABSEC activities, including the priorities of the Bulgarian BSEC Chairmanship-in-Office (November 2009 – May 2010) and discussed possibilities for establishing dialogue and cooperation with the Benelux Union and its parliamentary dimension.

The delegation attended the plenary sitting of the Benelux Parliament in the Hall of the Belgian Senate. Addressing the participants, Mr. Svilen Kraychev underlined that the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation had entered a new stage in its development, marked by the tendency of stronger inclusion of the Black Sea region in the integration processes in Europe. He stated that Bulgaria sees the Black Sea dimension as an essential part of EU’s foreign policy, as an important indicator for adoption of pragmatic approaches, directed towards exploring the large potential of cooperation with our region.