Iohannis: We would like Riga summit to mark EU's consolidated relations with Moldova, Georgia, Ukraine

Romania's President Klaus Iohannis said Thursday that Romania is directly interested in the European bids of Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine, adding that the EU's Eastern Partnership Summit meeting in Riga is expected to mark the consolidation of EU's relationships with the three countries.

Photo credit: (c) Alex MICSIK / AGERPRES ARCHIVE

'We would like this summit to mark an important stage in the consolidation of the EU's relationship with Eastern partner countries, particularly with those at an advanced stage in their European accession. I mean here Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine, in which European bids Romania is directly interested,' Iohannis told reporters at the Henri Coanda Airport before taking off for Riga.

He underscored that the summit in Riga is important from various points of view, as it will unfold in a more complex regional security climate than the 2013 summit did in Vilnius and also at a time when the European Union's Neighbourhood Policy is being revised.

Iohannis said the progress recorded by the partner states since the previous summit will be assessed and the assessment is expected to reconfirm the positive impacts of the Eastern Partnership as an instrument that managed to make the partner states embark on reforms and modernisation and stay engaged.

'Our commitment to the Eastern Partnership has to be reconfirmed. When establishing the future objectives and guidelines the level of advancement of each of the six partner states will also be factored in. That is why I will voice support in Riga for differentiating according to the own merits of each partner state to allow those who prove commitment and political will to advance toward the European Union,' said Iohannis.

He underscored that Romania has...