PM Dancila tells European commissioners that Romania is ready to take over EU Council Presidency

Prime Minister Viorica Dancila had a meeting with European Commissioners in Brussels on Wednesday, assuring them that Romania is fully prepared to take over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) on January 1, 2019, according to a press statement released by the Romanian government.

At a joint meeting of the Romanian Government and the College of Commissioners, which is traditionally organised by the member states before assuming the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Dancila "reiterated Romania's commitment and will for an efficient and pragmatic presidency."

She also voiced Romania's willingness to contribute in a constructive manner to defining and promoting the common European interest, to ensure unity and cohesion among the member states, and to bring citizens closer to the European Union."

"Mentioning the motto of the Romanian Presidency of the Council, Cohesion - a common European value, Dancila pointed out once again that, during its term of office, Romania will promote a cohesion policy that responds to the increased need for economic, social and territorial convergence."

Dancila also highlighted the main challenges that the Romanian Presidency will have to manage, such as the UK exiting the EU, negotiations over a multiannual financial framework, and migration. She reinforced the importance of close cooperation with the European institutions, especially with the European Commission, in order to obtain results and secure a successful tenure.

"Last but not least, Prime Minister Viorica Dancila voiced hope that the EU summit to be held in Sibiu in May will confirm the general attachment to the idea of a united, consolidated and efficient Europe and will provide the main strategic guidelines for the future of the European Union. The Romanian prime minister also reconfirmed Romania's interest in supporting the objectives of the EU external agenda, with an emphasis on advancing the European enlargement policy and securing greater consistency of the European Union action in its eastern neighbourhood."

At the meeting in Brussels, Minister of Public Finance Eugen Teodorovici and Minister-delegate for European Affairs George Ciamba had talks on the multilateral financial framework negotiations, while Minister of European Funds Rovana Plumb discussed economic and social convergence, and cohesion policy.

Interior Minister Carmen Dan discussed security and migration with European commissioners, and Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu spoke about the Eastern Partnership, the Black Sea and the Western Balkans.

"As regards the management of migration, the Romanian minister of internal affairs reaffirmed Romania's interest in continuing to work on shaping policies that respond to the existing challenges at European level. On the external side, the Romanian official emphasised an interest in supporting the objectives of the EU's external agenda, with emphasis on the advancement of the European Enlargement Policy and ensuring greater consistency of the Union's action in its eastern neighbourhood. In the same context, Romania's interest in marking the tenth anniversary of the launch of the Eastern Partnership was expressed."

According to the Government release, "European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker called the Romanian ministers' speeches very consistent and concluded that Romania is fully prepared to hold the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union." AGERPRES (RO - author: Cristian Lupascu, editor: Karina Olteanu; EN - author: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu, editor: Rodica State)