Romania and Bulgaria to Strengthen Cooperation on Danube Infrastructure

On 11 September, Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan and Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov held a phone conversation focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in transport projects and improving navigation on the Danube.

According to the government’s press release, the key topic of the discussion was the need to build a second bridge over the Danube at Ruse to ease congestion at the current crossing point and boost cross-border infrastructure.

To this end, a joint working meeting with the participation of relevant ministries and experts has already been held. The parties agreed to continue the dialogue on technical parameters and financing options for the project, as well as to coordinate their positions within EU initiatives aimed at the development of the Danube macro-region.

Context: The existing bridge in Ruse is one of the busiest transport hubs on the Bulgarian-Romanian border. Building a second crossing would relieve transit traffic, improve logistics efficiency, and contribute to the economic growth of both countries.