#Romania2019.eu/Birchall: During our Council of EU presidency we will have the objective of a stronger, more cohesive Europe

Deputy PM Ana Birchall on Monday relayed, at the meeting of the chairs of the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC), the message of Prime Minister Viorica Dancila, underscoring Romania's intention to strengthen, while holding the presidency of the Council of the EU, a Union of pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance and solidarity.

"During our presidency we will be permanently guided by the objective of a stronger, more cohesive Union, closer to its citizens and we are going to make all efforts to contribute to the definition of the actions of the European Union in the next years. I wish that Romania's mandate at the helm of the Council of the EU means the consolidation of a European Union of pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance and solidarity. I believe that only united we will be stronger and able to overcome the challenges we face today," she said.

Birchall added that in its activity, Romania will maintain an impartial, pragmatic approach, to identify "consensual" solutions, meant to advance the European agenda.

"First of all, we feel the need to strengthen cohesion in political actions, which will help us to reconnect the member states, the European institutions and citizens. (...) Moreover, the economic dimension of cohesion represents a catalyst factor in reducing the development gaps between the member states and between the regions and strengthen the single market. We considered thus, the valence of economic cohesion also from the perspective of new member states, such as Romania, for which the full integration into the single market is essential, so that its benefits be felt by all citizens. Not last, cohesion must be understood and promoted in its social dimension as well, understood also through the imperative of ensuring social convergence and preservation of the four fundamental liberties of the EU internal market," she said.

The Deputy PM showed that the priorities of the Romanian presidency were declined around four main pillars of action: Europe of convergence, Europe of safety, Europe - global player, Europe of common values. AGERPRES (RO - author: Irinela Visan, editor: Florin Marin; EN - author: Cristina Zaharia, editor: Adina Panaitescu)