The agreement on the strategic partnership in the field of green energy development and transport was signed in Bucharest

Producer: The agreement in the field of green energy, signed today, in Bucharest, by the head of state of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, by Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca, by the Georgian - Irakli Garibashvili, as well as by the Hungarian - Viktor Orban, provides for the construction of a submarine cable, in length of 1.200 kilometers. It will transport energy from Azerbaijan to Romania, via Georgia and the Black Sea, then to Hungary and the rest of Europe. President Klaus Iohannis and the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, were present at the ceremony.

Reporter: "In the current security context, we need to cooperate better and show more solidarity", declared President Klaus Iohannis and specified that the agreement is a crucial and ambitious document.

Klaus Iohannis: This agreement constitutes a framework for long-term cooperation between our countries, in a number of very important areas, first, the production, transport and marketing of clean energy, then the development of new transmission infrastructure, including a submarine cable under the Black Sea.

Reporter: The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stated that the project will create many opportunities and advocated for increased interconnectivity.

Ursula von der Leyen: To integrate as large a supply of such clean energy as possible, we need to increase interconnectivity. That is why the submarine cable between Romania, Georgia and Azerbaijan is so important. I can only say that I commend you for a particularly ambitious project.

Reporter: The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, spoke about the fact that his country will become an important supplier of electricity to Europe.

Ilham Aliyev: Azerbaijan is expanding its geographical reach by supplying gas to European markets. This is a win-win situation, because Europe needs to strengthen its energy security and Azerbaijan needs markets for its huge resources.

Reporter: Romania's accession to the Schengen area was mentioned by the Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban.

Viktor Orban: This development justifies Romania's partnership and entry into Schengen. Our decision was wrong within the European Union and this wrong decision should be corrected. Romania should be included in Schengen as soon as possible.

Reporter: The prime minister of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili, said that his country is willing to cooperate so that European states can be supplied with green energy.

Irakli Garibashvili: We have large generation capacities from green sources to also transmit to neighboring countries. We have the necessary infrastructure right now to transmit power to all our neighbors except Europe. The submarine cable in the Black Sea offers a very important perspective in this direction.

Reporter: Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca also spoke about regional energy security.

Nicolae Ciuca: Romania is committed to investing in energy production and energy infrastructure and, in cooperation with our partners, to promote energy security for us and the entire region.

Reporter: At the moment, the feasibility study is being carried out for the Project of the submarine electricity transmission cable through the Black Sea, which has a completion date of September next year.

Producer: This agreement, part of projects to strengthen Romania's energy security, was preceded by the signing, yesterday, of an important energy contract between the national companies Romgaz and SOCAR from Azerbaijan, which will ensure our country access to additional quantities of natural gas.

Translated by: Radu Matei