At working lunch with EU ambassadors, ForMin Melescanu discusses importance of post-Brexit European summit in Sibiu

Romania's Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu on Monday attended a working lunch with the ambassadors of EU member states accredited in Bucharest, organised by the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Romania amidst the ongoing Bulgarian presidency of the EU Council, discussing, among other things, the importance of the post-Brexit European summit to be hosted by the city of Sibiu.

Melescanu welcomed the objectives of the Bulgarian presidency and reiterated Romania's support for the continued Bulgaria's efforts to meet its established priorities, according to a press statement released by Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE).

"Mentioning a balanced and ambitious agenda on the future of the European Union, which advancement is a priority for Romania, including as a future EU Council president in the first half of 2019, Melescanu underscored the role of the extraordinary summit to be held in Sibiu on May 9, 2019, a symbolic date for the restart of the European Union."

Melescanu also mentioned that in the current context, maintaining the unity in consolidating the European design must remain a central objective. He expressed Romania's support for the development of the European design based on consistent, unitary and inclusive approaches that meet the expectations of European citizens, including Romanian citizens.

The conversation with the ambassadors was also an opportunity for a review of the foreign policy priorities in 2018, with emphasis on strengthening dialogue with European partners, intensifying the schedule for B9 meetings, preparing the three-way cooperation dialogue with Bulgaria and Greece, recent developments in Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) and Romania's involvement, their complementarity with NATO and preparations for a NATO ministerial meeting in April as well as for a Three Seas Initiative meeting.

At the same time, he reiterated his support for the European prospects of the Western Balkans, highlighting Romania's support and interest in pursuing enlargement policy as a successful EU policy and as a tool for promoting reforms and democratic transformation in the region.

He also called for committed EU action in the latter's eastern neighbourhood, particularly in relation to the Eastern partners implementing association agreements concluded with the EU.

Melescanu reconfirmed Romania's priority attached to its relations with Moldova and to supporting Moldova's European journey, welcoming the prospect for a new meeting of the Group for European Action of the Republic of Moldova on the side-lines of a February 26 Foreign Affairs Council meeting, in cooperation with his French counterpart. AGERPRES (RO - author: Oana Ghita, editor: Georgiana Tanasescu; EN - author: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu, editor: Adina Panaitescu)