President Iohannis pleads for stronger, more active involvement of EU in solving conflicts in its neighborhood

President Klaus Iohannis welcomed on Wednesday, at Cotroceni Presidential Palace, the President of the French Senate, Gerard Larcher, the discussions focusing on the security agenda, the strengthening of bilateral cooperation, including from a parliamentary perspective, the European agenda and international issues.

"As to the situation in Syria, the Senate's President Gerard Larcher thanked for the Romanian President's statement supporting the US, France and the United Kingdom. President Klaus Iohannis pleaded for a stronger and more active involvement of the EU in solving the conflicts in its neighborhood," the Presidential Administration said in a statement.

The head of state also welcomed the presence of the President of the French Senate at the Parliamentary Meeting of the Bucharest Format (B9), given that this format does not only refer to the countries of the NATO's Eastern Flank, but also contributes to the strengthening of the entire Alliance.

The President of the French Senate stressed the need for a balanced approach on the Alliance's Southern and Eastern Flanks, from the perspective of the concept of defence solidarity.

"President Klaus Iohannis highlighted the excellent level of the bilateral relationship characterized by the increasingly stronger Romania-France Strategic Partnership, as well as the special relations developed personally with his French counterpart. In this context, the President of Romania emphasized the deep historical links between the two states, as well as their citizens', highlighted the significant contribution made by France to the edification of the modern Romanian state which is celebrating this year the Centenary of the Great Union," the release reads.

The two senior officials have expressed their support for the Romania-France Season - a large-scale cultural and diplomacy project that Presidents Klaus Iohannis and Emmanuel Macron will inaugurate this autumn - to be a success in terms of promoting the current image of the two states.

At the same time, President Iohannis and the French official welcomed the positive dynamic of the bilateral economic relations.

At European level, the French official appreciated Romania's balanced approach to migration policy. In this context, the Romanian head of state highlighted the fact that migration policy, along with securing borders, are two major concerns to which European citizens expect concrete solutions from decision makers.

As far as the future of Europe is concerned, the two senior officials have agreed on the need to avoid the creation within the EU of concentric circles that act as new division walls within the continent.

Other files of common interest, including the subject of the EU's relations with Russia, have also been addressed.

The French official was in Bucharest to attend the the first Parliamentary Summit of the Bucharest Format (B9). AGERPRES (RO - author: Florentina Peia, editor: Georgiana Tanasescu; EN - author: Bogdan Gabaroi, editor: Simona Iacob)