Conclusions of the Romanian PM’s visit to Brussels
The Romanian PM discussed with the EU officials about the pandemic, joining Schengen, EU funds absorption and monitoring of justice.
Daniela Budu, 22.12.2021, 14:00
The Government continues to be strongly committed to consolidating dialogue with the European partners and Romania remains a reliable ally, fully dedicated to the European project. This is the main message conveyed by PM Nicolae Ciuca at the two-day meetings he had with the EU officials in Brussels.
The PM insisted during the talks on a quick decision to be taken as regards Romanias accession to the Schengen area. In terms of monitoring of the justice system, he gave assurances that the governing program includes clear objectives and investment likely to convince the European Commission that the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism, imposed on Romania 15 years ago, when the country joined the EU, should be lifted. Ciuca also discussed with the EU officials about the way in which the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, funded with EU money, would be implemented. He received guarantees that Romania would benefit technical assistance from the Commission to draw these funds. Nicolae Ciuca announced, in Brussels, that the Romanian government would set up a structure that should monitor, coordinate and check the way in which this European instrument is used. Nicolae Ciuca: ”We cannot afford to lose this chance. We already have 12 billion euro cohesion funds, which must be spent in a very short time. There are the funds received under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and the European funds under the multi-annual financing framework. These require the involvement and responsibility of each of us, in order to reach our goal.”
Talks with the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, focused on pandemic and the impact of the new variant, Omicron. Ciuca gave assurances that the authorities are trying to find the most effective ways to convince people to get vaccinated in order to avoid a new wave of casualties like the one Romania saw in November. Nicolae Ciuca: ”There were talks regarding the way in which the vaccination campaign unfolds and the need for the people to get immunized. This is, in fact, the only instrument that protects us, helps us deal easier with the disease and have fewer infections than in the fourth wave.”
During the meetings with the US Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, Nicolae Ciuca voiced Romanias concern with the complicated situation at Ukraines eastern border, and insisted on the need to strengthen deterrence actions on NATOs eastern flank and at the Black Sea. At the same time, he gave assurances that Romania would further observe its commitment to allocate 2% of its GDP to defense. (EE)
