ForMin Aurescu welcomes Chairman of Sweden's Parliament Ahlin

Romania's Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu on Monday welcomed Chairman of the Swedish Parliament Urban Alhin, who was visiting Romania at the invitation of Speaker of Romania's Chamber of Deputies Valeriu Zgonea.

The Romanian Foreign Ministry (MAE) reports in a press release that the two officials discussed aspects of shared interest in the Romanian-Swedish relationship, with emphasis on deepening political dialogue. The conversation occasioned a comprehensive exchange of opinions on current affairs of shared interests, including the recent summit meeting in Riga of the European Union's eastern partnership and the latest developments in the Eastern Neighbourhood.

Aurescu reiterated the message he conveyed in Riga, with emphasis on the need for the role of the Eastern Partnership as a strategic instrument for the development of relations between the EU and its Eastern Neighbourhood being consolidated. He called for more vision in the consolidation of the partnership, including by bringing new ideas and taking advantage of the ongoing revision of the European Neighbourhood Policy, says MAE. The minister also presented Romania's proposal for security trusts as platforms or permanent dialogue on extended security issues, a concept the Swedish official welcomed.

At the same time, Aurescu said the European prospects for the partner states that want to advance on the European path should be kept open. He reiterated that from this point of view Moldova remains a major priority to Romania, with the main objective being the encouragement of its European journey through an as consistent as possible support for Moldova's implementing its association agreement and comprehensive free trade agreement concluded with the EU, says MAE.

"Romania has...