Interim ForMin Aurescu attends GAC meeting; EU enlargement, post-Brexit negotiation on meeting agenda

Interim Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu participated in Brussels on Tuesday in the meeting of the General Affairs Council (GAC), which tackled the enlargement of the European Union and the post-Brexit negotiations, a release of the Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) informed. The meeting agenda also included the preparations for the European Council of 26-27 March. In his speech regarding the agenda in the economy area of the future European Council, the Romanian Minister emphasised Romania's support for the consolidation objectives of the digital single market, especially the decrease of the digital gap, the boost of European investments in disadvantaged regions, ensuring the full functioning of the Internal Market, as well as the importance of drafting a future industrial strategy of the EU and ensuring a fair and equitable transition toward climate neutrality, taking into account the different economic and social situations of the member states. Within the GAC meeting, the ministers approved the negotiation mandate of the European Union regarding the future relations between the European Union and the UK. According to the same source, Bogdan Aurescu voiced Romania's support for a negotiation mandate, arguing that it reflects the strategic lines subsequently agreed at the European Council level, as well as elements of the Political Declaration concluded together with the Withdrawal Agreement. The Romanian official highlighted the necessity of a "comprehensive and ambitious agreement" with the UK, to further allow a tight cooperation in a wide range of areas. In this context, Aurescu argued that the fast adoption of the negotiation mandate at the Council level "sends a strong signal to the UK" regarding EU's determination to start negotiations as soon as possible, in view of reaching a substantial agreement, beneficial to both sides. Furthermore, the Romanian diplomacy head voiced confidence that the efforts of the negotiation team would materialise through obtaining a "fair and equitable" result for all member states, in full accordance with the European citizens' interests. Aurescu reiterated the importance of a "unitary and coherent" voice of the EU in the negotiation process. "The Romanian citizens' interests will remain at the centre of our priorities. We will mainly pursue that the future arrangements in the mobility area be governed by the full reciprocity and non-discrimination principles," the interim Minister underscored, according to the release. Moreover, within the GAC meeting, the European Commission presented the proposed enlargement methodology. In this context, Bogdan Aurescu confirmed Romania's strong support for the advancement of the enlargement process, in agreement with the principle of the candidates' own merits, the MAE release mentions. The Romanian dignitary pleaded for a coordinated action at the EU level to further ensure the credibility, transparency and efficiency of the EU action, taking also into account the strategic value of the enlargement process. Aurescu showed that the streamlining of the enlargement methodology shouldn't lead to blockages or delays in the ongoing accession negotiation processes, nor in the adoption of decisions to open the accession negotiations with Albania and the Republic of Northern Macedonia, the press release showed. The officials attending the GAC meeting also exchanged views on the Working Programme of the Commission for 2020. In this context, Minister Aurescu welcomed the priorities announced by the European Commission through the working programme, showing that they are in agreement with the objectives included in the Strategic Agenda of the Union for 2019-2024 and voiced availability to support the Commission to implement them. According to the MAE, Aurescu emphasised the importance of strengthening those policies which contributed to the sustainability of the European project, such as the consolidation of the Single Market, adopting a balanced Multiannual Financial Framework, ensuring full functionality of Schengen or strengthening the external action of the Union, including in relation to the immediate vicinity and the enlargement policy. AGERPRES (RO - author: Oana Ghita, editor: Catalin Alexandru; EN - author: Rodica State, editor: Cristina Zaharia)