Ponta: European Social Democrats to ask for presidency of European Council

Photo credit (c) SORIN LUPSA / AGERPRES PHOTO

The European Social Democrats will ask in one voice for the presidency of the European Council and the office of high representative of the EU for foreign policy, national leader of Romania's Social Democratic Party (PSD) Prime Minister Victor Ponta told Antena 3 public broadcaster on Saturday in Paris after attending an informal meeting of EU Social Democratic heads of government.

'Representatives of ten Social Democratic governments attended and two things were discussed: who and what positions the Party of the European Socialists (PES) will demand since we have acknowledged the results of this May European elections that gave a majority to the European populars. So, Jean Claude Junker will probably be the next president of the European Commission, but the European Social Democrats will demand in one voice the office of the president of the European Council and the office of high representative for foreign policy,' Ponta told Antena 3 in an interview.

He added that the meeting also discussed much about the priorities for the next five years. 'This will also be the object of the incoming council summit on Thursday: what the heads of government suggest that the Commission prioritise for the next five years: jobs creation and economic growth,' said Ponta.

He added that also discussed were energy and what our neighbours mean. 'They said be warned and let us not forget to put out a very clear message for Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia. We have created great expectations in those countries and surely now it is important who the president of the commission will be, but we should remember what is being expected from us,' said Ponta.

He mentioned that it is important for Romania to be at the negotiating table as negotiations are...

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