Cristina Zaharia

European Commission President jean Claude Juncker on Friday voiced his hope that by the end of this Commission's mandate Romania became a member of the Schengen Area.

Bucharest, Jan 11 /Agerpres/ - Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Friday stated that the rule of law is not something to be negotiated.

President Klaus Iohannis on Friday welcomed at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace the President of the European Commission, Jean Claude Juncker, in the context of the taking over by Romania of the rotating Presidency at the Council of the EU.

The two high officials will have a tete-a-tete conversation, after which the head of state will have a meeting of the College of Commissioners.

Prime Minister Viorica Dancila, during a meeting she had with the French Minister for European Affairs, Nathalie Loiseau, highlighted the steps made in updating the roadmap for the Declaration of Strategic Partnership.

Minister-delegate for European Affairs George Ciamba highlighted, in the meeting on Thursday with his French counterpart Nathalie Loiseau, Romania's interest in ensuring a successful mandate at the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

French Minister of European Affairs Nathalie Loiseau on Thursday stated that she trusted Romania's capacity to bring Council of EU presidency to a good end.

Prime Minister Viorica Dancila on Thursday said that migration is "an extremely difficult" file, and Romania, which is holding the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU, will do its best to progress in the direction of a common vision on the European asylum system.

Prime Minister Viorica Dancila on Thursday stated that the most difficult file that Romania will have to deal with while holding the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union is the Multiannual Financial Framework.

Prime Minister Viorica Dancila on Thursday said that, regardless of the scenario in which the negotiations on Brexit with the UK take place, the EU's priority must remain the protection of the rights of the European citizens who live, work or study in the UK.

Romania marks on Thursday its taking over the presidency of the Council of the European Union through a ceremony organised at the Romanian Athenaeum, to be attended by the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, and Romania's Prime Minister Viorica Dancila.