Participation of the PABSEC International Secretariat in the BSEC Working Group meetings, 9-11 November 2020
Ms. Milena Ljubinkovic, Secretary of the PABSEC Economic, Commercial, Technological and Environmental Affairs Committee took part in several meetings of the BSEC Working Groups organized on 9-11 November 2020.
The Meeting of the BSEC Working Group on Customs Matters was held online on 9 November 2020 and attended by the representatives of Republic of Armenia, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bulgaria, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Republic of Serbia, Republic of Turkey, Ukraine, BSEC Observers- Republic of Italy and Republic of Poland, BSEC Sectoral Dialogue Partners- Montenegro and the Union of Road Transport Associations in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Region. The representatives of the International Road Transport Union and Customs and Tourism Enterprises participated in the Meeting as Guests. At the meeting, participants exchanged views on the measures taken by the member states to cope with the negative impact of COVID-19 at the border crossings, as well as the extraordinary measures taken in the wake of the pandemic. Harmonization and simplification of customs procedures, as well as improving customs operations and control in respect of goods for personal use moved through international e-commerce were also discussed, stressing the overall role of e-commerce in increasing trade transactions, particularly under the current pandemic situation.
The Meeting of the BSEC Working Group on Trade and Economic Development was held online on 10 November 2020 and attended by the representatives of Republic of Armenia, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bulgaria, Hellenic Republic, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Republic of Turkey, Ukraine, as well as Republic of Poland as BSEC Observer and the representative of International Road Transport Union as a Guest. At the meeting participants exchanged views on recent developments of economic and trade relations among the BSEC member states, especially about the negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the development of trade in the BSEC region and ways of overcoming it. Cooperation among the BSEC member states in the sphere of electronic commerce and regional cooperation in sustainable development were also discussed.
The Meeting of the BSEC Working Group on Banking and Finance was held online on 11 November 2020 and attended by the representatives of the Republic of Armenia, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bulgaria, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Republic of Turkey, Ukraine, as well as the representative of the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank, the Arab Republic of Egypt as the BSEC Observer and Montenegro as Sectoral Dialogue Partner. The participants mainly discussed the recent developments in the banking and finance sectors in the BSEC member states during the covid-19 pandemic, such as anti-crisis measures, reform policies and agreements concluded or under discussion and exchanged views on possible international cooperation and projects in the sphere of banking and finance.
Ms. Milena Ljubinkovic, Secretary of the PABSEC Economic, Commercial, Technological and Environmental Affairs Committee briefed the participants about the Recommendation “Development of Financial Technologies in the BSEC Member States” adopted by the PABSEC General Assembly at its 55th Plenary Session held online on 6 August 2020.