Priorities of Romania’s Presidency of the EU Council

Romania is holding the six-month rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Bogdan Matei, 03.01.2019, 11:02

The European Parliament elections due in May and Great Britain’s official withdrawal from the community bloc are two of the most important topics on the agenda of Romania’s term at the helm of the European Union Council, its first since it joined the EU 11 years ago. One of the highlights of 2019 will be the EU Summit in Sibiu on May 9, Europe Day, which will focus on the future of the EU post-Brexit. Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the official ceremony marking the start of Romania’s term in office, to be held on January 10 in Bucharest and to be attended by a delegation of the European Commission, including its President, Jean-Claude Juncker.

Prime Minister Viorica Dancila says Romania wants to promote a pragmatic vision during its term in office, centered on cohesion. The Romanian official went on to say that intolerance, populism, racism and xenophobia can be combated by constantly referring to values underlying the EU.

Viorica Dancila also called for increased citizen participation in the decision-making process: “I believe we need to encourage young people to get involved in order to shape a strong Europe, based on common European values. Moreover, we will support legislative initiatives related to European citizens’ participation to the European legislative process”.

In turn, Romania’s President, Klaus Iohannis, has urged Romanians to capitalize on the opportunity of holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in order to prove that Romania is fully committed to consolidating the European project. The president recalls the complex context that surrounds Romania’s term in office and referred to the summit in Sibiu, saying that Romania’s objective is to have a positive, future-oriented discussion.

We want the summit to offer a strategic outlook of the future of the European Union and its policies over the next five years, Klaus Iohannis said. The president also wants the summit in Sibiu to contribute to consolidating the European project, based on consensually-designated priorities. During its term in office Romania will also oversee negotiations over the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework. A total of 257 topics will be debated in the first four months of the year, before the start of the European Parliament election campaign. (Translated by V. Palcu)