Bulgaria–Romania relations

Bulgarian-Romanian relations are foreign relations between Bulgaria and Romania. Bulgaria has an embassy in Bucharest. Romania has an embassy in Sofia and three honorary consulates (in Burgas, Silistra and Vidin). There are 7,336 Bulgarians who are living in Romania and around 4,575 Romanians living in Bulgaria. The countries share 608 km of common borders, mostly along the Danube.

Bulgarian-Romanian relations

Bulgaria
Romania
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of Bulgaria, BucharestEmbassy of Romania, Sofia

History

Bulgarian relations with Romania feature regular official visits by the two presidents. Romanian-Bulgarian relations are developing "very intensively" because of EU accession, since Romania and Bulgaria both joined the European Union in 2007. In the first half of the 20th century, Romania and Bulgaria had a serious conflict over the Dobruja region. This dispute, while now largely forgotten, escalated into all out war in 1913. The territorial dispute between the two countries ended with the Treaty of Craiova.

There are close relations between Ruse and Giurgiu which have one of the two bridges on the Danube in the section shared by the two countries, the Danube Bridge. The other bridge is the New Europe Bridge located between Vidin and Calafat, its construction was completed in June, 2013.

2019 African swine fever controversy

A diplomatic row broke out in August 2019 between Bulgaria and Romania over the African swine fever (ASF).[1]

The Bulgarian Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, accused Romanian tourists of bringing the ASF disease and helping to spread it. Borisov is reported to have said: "There are 57,000 cars crossing from Romania each day into Bulgaria. I’m sure the Romanian tourists brought the disease. They eat on the side of the road, throw the food remains that help spread the swine disease. They are walking around, eating and throwing the remains all over the place. There’s nothing we can do."[1]

The Romanian foreign ministry replied that it was disappointed by Borisov's words and that Romanian tourists boost Bulgaria's GDP: "Beyond the technical arguments that will be offered by the National Veterinary Health and Food Safety Authority to respond to the unfortunate statements of the prime minister of Bulgaria, Boyko Borisov, we are surprised and disappointed by the way the Bulgarian prime minister has referred to Romanian tourists, who make a substantial contribution to the GDP of Bulgaria"[1][2]

  • Romanian 1948 stamp depicting Romanian-Bulgarian friendship
  • Embassy of Bulgaria in Bucharest
  • Embassy of Romania in Sofia

Resident diplomatic missions
  • Bulgaria has an embassy in Bucharest.
  • Romania has an embassy in Sofia.

See also

References
  1. "Sow row as Bulgaria accuses Romanian tourists over African Swine Fever". Euronews. 5 August 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  2. "Bulgarian PM blames Romanian tourists for swine fever". Romania Insider. 6 August 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
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