Romania takes over the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union
Bucharest will be hosting this week the official launch of Romanias Presidency of the Council of the European Union
Corina Cristea, 07.01.2019, 13:33
Bucharest will host on the 10th of January the official launch of Romanias Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which this country will be holding for the first time since joining the bloc in 2007. The Romanian Athenaeum will host a concert given by renowned Romanian musicians and the European Union Orchestra, which is made up of musicians from all EU member states, and the next day, on Friday, the European Commission will hold a joint working meeting with the Romanian government. During its term, Romania will have to manage very important issues for the future of the Union such as Brexit, the negotiation of the future budget and the elections for the European Parliament, and the Romanian authorities are giving assurances that they are ready for these challenges.
President Klaus Iohannis: “We practically begin directly with the Presidency of the Council of the EU. We will receive the visit of the European Commission to begin this presidency in force. Im convinced we will cope well.
Romania has chosen cohesion as the motto of its term because this principle is fundamental for the evolution of the European project, prime minister Viorica Dancila has explained: “Every action we will undertake in the next six months will be aimed at supporting and consolidating this concept of cohesion on which the entire European architecture rests.
The priority of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first three months is the finalisation of the legislative files that depend on the collaboration with the European Parliament, the minister delegate for European Affairs George Ciamba told Radio Romania. He also said that during this period, Romania may also have to manage the UKs possible leaving the EU without a deal:
George Ciamba: “Romanias priorities are, in the first place, in the first period when we work together with the current European Parliament, to carry through as many legislative files as possible. This European Parliament will only work until April, so practically the useful period is quite short, which means we will have to accelerate all negotiations, including within the Council. Romania will have to have an impartial position and at the same time manage to ensure qualified majorities to allow reaching a common position at the level of the Council.
The second part of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU will be dedicated to the Sibiu Summit on the future of Europe, on May 9. (Translated by C. Mateescu, edited by D. Vijeu)
