Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications

Today in Budapest was celebrated the 150^th anniversary since the foundation of the First International Commission for navigation on the Danube River.

The Bulgarian delegation was leaded by the Deputy Minister of Transport Daniela Nikiforova.   

   Welcome Speech

Of the Bulgarian Minister of Transport for the 150^th Anniversary since the foundation of the First International Commission for navigation of the Danube River

Dear Ministers, ladies and gentlemen, 150 years is a remarkable anniversary for an international organization that deals with the navigation on the Danube River. It is a fact that since the year 1856 the Paris Treatise by regulating the foundation of the first European International Commission for navigation on the Danube River, the successor of which is our Danube Commission, has settled an international regime for providing of safe navigation of the Danube River.

Bulgaria has also contributed to the celebration of this great anniversary by organizing the International Conference in Ruse in the beginning of April this year.

The Bulgarian government gives an important position of the Danube River being Transport Corridor No7, which is an inseparable part of the European Inland Waterways Network. Experts at different levels have active participation in the work of all international organizations, forums and initiatives that are related to the problems of the Danube River as well as all European Inland Waterways. We are working hard in order to apply as soon as possible the most important decisions to our Bulgarian conditions.

For example, we can inform you that in relation to the Rotterdam declaration and the Memorandum for development of Pan-European corridor No7 from the year 2001, we have prepared for implementation a number of important infrastructure and other kinds of projects that are intended to improve the navigation conditions in the Bulgarian – Romanian section of the Danube River and some of them are already in the process of implementation. These include:

              - Project “Improving of navigation in the Bulgarian – Romanian section of the Danube River”;

              - Construction of “Winter Camp for 39 vessels”;

              - Project “Integrated cross border monitoring system for the Danube River”;

              - Project “System for ecological monitoring for preventing of the Danube River waters from pollution resulting from navigation”;

              - Data Warehouse for the Danube River – electronic navigation charts;

              - “River Information System” (RIS), etc.

As regards to the law harmonization and market access – the second important moment from the Declaration, Bulgaria has joined the following:

              - “Regional agreement regarding the radiotelephone service on the inland waterways” – February, 2002;

              - “Budapest convention regarding the contract for transportation of goods on the inland waterways”

             - “European agreement for transportation of dangerous goods on the inland waterways”;

Some important laws were adopted in field of water transport, for example:

              - “The Commercial Navigation Code”;

              - “The Law regarding the Maritime Areas, Inland Waterways and Ports of the Republic of Bulgaria”.

A number of internal normative regulations regarding the navigation have been adopted and are currently acting.

Dear Ministers, ladies and gentlemen, in conclusion from behalf of the Bulgarian Government I would like to congratulate you with this anniversary and to wish you all successful work within this forum.

Thank you for the attention! 

For Additional Information:
Yasen Zarev, Press Centre,
Ministry of Transport
Phone: 940 94 85
E-Mail: yzarev@mt.government.bg