Prime Minister Dancila in Brussels meets secretary general of World Jewish Restitution Organisation's Avital

Prime Minister Viorica Dancila on Wednesday had in Brussels a bilateral meeting with the secretary general of the World Jewish Restitution Organisation Collette Avital, the two dignitaries bringing to mind Romania's recent efforts to speeding up the Jewish properties' restitution process, the gov't says in a release sent to AGERPRES.

"The bilateral relationship Romania-Israel were tackled, the Romanian Prime minister stressing that the State of Israel is Romania's closest ally and strategic partner in the Middle East. They have also brought to mind Romania's recent efforts to speeding up the Jewish properties' restitution process as well as the legislative evolutions related to the allowances' payment for the Holocaust survivors. The two dignitaries agreed for the further cooperation between the Romanian Government and the World Jewish Restitution Organisation on these topics," the source adds.

The parties have also tackled the importance of Israel as a strategic partner of the European Union, on an extensive range of topics, from the regional stability and counter-terrorism to the economic development and energy security, education and common values' promotion.

Moreover, adds the source, the Romanian PM presented during the said meeting, the priorities of the Romanian presidency for the EU Council, with an accent on combating anti-Semitism and combating the Holocaust denial.

Premier Viorica Dancila is on a working visit to Brussels to attend the "Fight against anti-Semitism: a joint approach for a better protection of the Jewish communities in Europe - from policies to actions" conference.AGERPRES(RO - author: Dana Piciu, editor: Andreea Rotaru; EN - author: Maria Voican, editor: Bogdan Gabaroi)