EU Priorities and Issues

Romania officially takes over the presidency of the Council of the EU

România Internațional, 10.01.2019, 14:23

Romania has a mission that is equally honorable and difficult: for six months, it will be coordinating the entire activity of the European Union. The beginning of its term, which is a first for Romania, is marked by the presence in Bucharest, on Thursday and Friday, of the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and his entire team of commissioners. According to the Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila, Romania is ready, both politically and technically. Next week, she will present before the European Parliament the priorities of the Romanian presidency of the Council of the EU.

Prime Minister Viorica Dancila: “We fully understand the opportunity that we have now, to be seen acting together, for the benefit of Romania and also of the EU. All the ministers members of this Cabinet have on their agendas European files and, starting January 21st, we will attend the specialized committees of the European Parliament.”

The Romanian premier has also promised that Bucharest will foster consensus. The objectives of Romanias six-month presidency are related to Brexit, the future EU budget, the upcoming European Parliament election, the common agricultural policy, but also the challenges of migration, terrorism and asylum policy. As regards foreign policy, the EU wants to develop the Eastern Partnership and will have to manage the relations with Russia, with regard to the latters interference in democratic processes, or the situation in Ukraine. There are also economic challenges, pertaining to the relations with the US and China. The motto of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU is cohesion, because this principle is fundamental for the evolution of the European project.

Here is Prime Minister Viorica Dancila again: “All the actions and activities that we will be carrying out in the next six months will be aimed at supporting and strengthening this cohesion concept, which is the foundation of the entire European architecture. We will take action to reduce development gaps, to ensure equal access to benefits, to remove the factors that create distance or hierarchies among the member states.”

In Brussels, the vice-president of the European Commission, the Finish Jyrki Katainen has stated that the current priorities of the community block include the observation of the rule of law in some European Countries, mentioning Poland, Hungary but also Romania. Europe, the EU official has also stated, is based on solid values, such as the rule of law, human rights, human dignity, the independence of the judiciary, freedom of the press and freedom of expression. If such values are attacked or contested, then we are faced with a fundamental issue, Jyrki Katainen has also said.