European Council

Romania will actively participate in debates on specific country recommendations issued by the European Commission, according to a press statement released on Wednesday by the Foreign Ministry (MAE).

Romania needs to focus on more intense collaboration with countries on the African continent, Prime Minister Viorica Dancila said on Monday in a message on Africa Day.

Deputy Prime Minister for Implementation of Romania's Strategic Partnerships Ana Birchall read the message at a reception extended to the members of the diplomatic corps accredited in Bucharest.

Greek party leaders have rejected "Republic of Ilinden Macedonia" as a candidate name for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), while opposition is also expected to arise from within ruling SYRIZA.

President of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party (ALDE) Hans van Baalen voiced hope that all the upcoming changes to the justice package will strengthen the rule of law, stressing that they must comply with European legislation and the rulings of the Constitutional Court of Romania.

On Wednesday European Council president Donald Tusk had laid into the US President.

"With friends like these, who need enemies," he'd said, referring to Donald Trump's trade tariffs and his abandoning of the Iran nuclear deal.

Then on Thursday came President's Trump's riposte:

Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on Thursday appeared to be edging toward a solution on a longstanding dispute over the latter's name following talks between the countries' prime ministers on the sidelines of a summit in Sofia.

• A Bank delegation led by President Werner Hoyer participated in the Western Balkans Summit in Sofia
• The EIB and Serbia signed a Memorandum of Understanding reconfirming the Bank's support for key connectivity infrastructure, digitalisation, rural development, energy safety and urban transport

The declaration adopted at the European Union - Western Balkans Summit reflects the EU's commitment to the Western Balkans region, President Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday at an informal meeting in the Bulgarian capital.

AGERPRES special correspondent Florentina Peia reports: President Klaus Iohannis stated on Thursday that, in terms of foreign policy, the collaboration of the Government with the Presidency "is not optional, but mandatory."

European Council President Donald Tusk said in Sofia on Wednesday, Beta is reporting.

Tusk said that besides long-term prospects, the EU wanted to show that it took care of socio-economic development in the region and that he hoped the summit would bring the "friends from the Western Balkans" closer to the European Union.