Talks on the future of the EU

Sibiu becomes the capital of the European Union as EU leaders come together in this Transylvanian city.

Roxana Vasile, 09.05.2019, 13:13

EU leaders met on Thursday in Sibiu
to discuss the future of the European Union. The summit hosted by this
mediaeval city in central Romania was preceded on Wednesday by the conference The Future of Europe. Perspectives of Contemporary Developments and the debate Young Citizens’ Dialogue organised
by the European Commission and which was attended by around 300 young people
from all EU member states.

The summit is extremely important not only for Europe, but it is also
extremely important for Romania and the Romanians, and a cause for joy. Europe
comes to Romania! Europe comes here, to the summit, and it is from here, from
Romania, that we are outlining the future of the European Union! exclaimed
president Klaus Iohannis at the conference on the future of the Union.
Addressing numerous experts and representatives of the academic community, he
pointed out that the bloc’s political players must confirm that their agenda coincides
with that of Europe’s citizens and that European policies must ensure more convergence
to create a better future in Europe.

It is important to achieve better communication and to consolidate the
progress obtained in the application of European policies with constant
information about the benefits brought by the European Union to its citizens,
added equilibrium and stability, security and prosperity, Klaus Iohannis also
said. He added:

It is essential to reiterate that our vision remains a common one and
that beyond our natural differences and specificities, what unites us as member
states is the will to work together to carry through the European project and
find common solutions to the complex challenges facing contemporary world.

Issues such as migration, climate change, the digital single market and
allowing 16-year-olds to vote are some of the subjects debated on Wednesday in
Sibiu. The president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker urged young
Europeans to vote in the upcoming European elections. The message coming from
Sibiu is that in only a few weeks’ time, the elections for the European Parliament
and, implicitly, the start of a new European institutional cycle will have a
major impact on the European policies developed in the coming years. The
efforts to mobilise citizens’ trust and support, the dialogue between the
European institutions and that between European leaders and citizens can ensure
necessary support for the European policies, but can also respond to the
challenges generated by the rising eurosceptic or extremist rhetoric.