#Romania2019.eu/Minister-delegate Ciamba: We're working intensely so that negotiations on future MFF advance in due time

Minister-delegate for European Affairs George Ciamba chaired in Brussels on Tuesday the General Affairs Council (GAC) meeting under the aegis of Romania's Presidency at the EU Council, where there was tackled an important topic on the discussion agenda, namely the post-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), a release of the Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) informs.

According to a MAE release, Minister-delegate Ciamba reviewed the stage of discussions regarding this file and presented the process and the work programme until April 2019. He brought to mind that the Romanian Presidency's objective is to continue the discussions at a dynamic pace, in order to put at the European Council's disposal in June a simplified and balanced negotiation document, in order to facilitate a political agreement in this file, in the autumn.

"We are working intensely in order to ensure that these important negotiations over the future Multiannual Financial Framework advance in due time. Today's talks provided the necessary image in order to continue the activity and to ensure that the European leaders will have, by June, an efficient basis for a substantial discussion over the most important elements," the Romanian dignitary stated.

The member states voiced their support for the Romanian Presidency's effort to advance the talks in this file, for the work programme and the topics announced for debates at technical and political level in the next period. Moreover, also expressed was the support to boost negotiations on sectorial proposals corresponding to the 2020-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework.

According to the practice, the Ministers for European Affairs exchanged views over the topics included on the European Council meeting annotated draft agenda, to be held between 21 and 22 March, in view of preparing the meeting of European leaders. Their talks will be mainly focused on aspects regarding on jobs, growth and competitiveness, climate change, the preparation of the EU-China Summit on 9 April, combating misinformation, protecting the integrity of European and national elections, the release says.

The representatives of the member stated welcomed the Council agenda in spring and pointed out the importance of discussions related to the internal market, the single digital market, the EU strategy in the industrial policy area, highlighting their role in these discussions, in view of preparing the next Strategic Agenda. The ministers also highlighted the importance of discussions among leaders related to the EU-China relations and maintaining the misinformation topic on the agenda.

Furthermore, the ministers carried out a first talk regarding the reflection document "Towards a sustainable Europe by 2030," published on 30 January by the European Commission, in view of preparing the conclusions of the EU Council on this topic. Mainly, they tackled key-elements which allow the transition toward a sustainable Europe, with an emphasis on the three scenarios of the Commissions' reflection document. The exchange of views highlighted the importance of action for supporting sustainable development at national, regional and global level, in order to implement the 2030 Agenda at the EU level.

"It's important for the EU to establish the steps for implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We should take into account the global impact of actions at the EU level. Today's talks represented an important step in this direction. We will further work intensely on this topic during Romania's Presidency at the EU Council," Minister-delegate George Ciamba highlighted.

The European officials reviewed the stage of works regarding the procedures, based on article 7, paragraph (1) regarding the rule of law in Poland and the observance of the EU values in Hungary.

Within the ministerial meeting, also adopted formally, without debate, the Conclusions of the EU Council regarding free and fair elections, a particularly relevant political signal at European level, prior to the debut of the electoral campaign to the European Parliament, which will take place in the member states between 23 and 26 May.

Moreover, the Council adopted the Conclusions on EU relations with the Swiss Confederation. These conclusions are adopted by the Council every two years and aim to asses the relation between the two partners, representing also a policy declaration regarding the development of cooperation in the future, the MAE release mentions. AGERPRES (RO - author: Antonia Nita, editor: Marius Fratila; EN - author: Rodica State, editor: Adina Panaitescu)

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