The Romanian PM in Brussels

PM Viorica Dancila has given assurances in Brussels that the Cohesion Policy is Romania's priority at European level

România Internațional, 07.02.2019, 13:42

Romanias priority as president of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2019 is the cohesion policy, and negotiations are set to continue at a fast pace to have the related legislative package adopted on time. This is the message the Romanian PM Viorica Dancila conveyed at the plenary meeting of the European Committee of the Regions hosted by Brussels on Wednesday. According to the Romanian official, the start of the future operational programs will allow the benefits of the cohesion policy to show in peoples daily lives, in the lives of the cities and regions of Europe. At the same time, the EU should prove that it has the capacity to make progress in strengthening the European policies and obtaining concrete results for the citizens.

PM Viorica Dancila: “Strengthening social cohesion requires economic convergence at European level. We therefore need a fully functional single market, free competition and transparent and fair rules as well as active mobility in all of its dimensions.”

According to the Romanian PM, in the run up to the European elections, the EU should come up with the adequate measures to counterbalance the euro-skeptical and populist discourse, by promoting a more democratic Union, which should be closer to its citizens. PM Dancila also added that education and culture represented the key to Europes future both from European citizens individual perspectives and with regard to consolidating the European project. Local and regional authorities and communities can play an important role in this regard. At the helm of the Council of the EU, Romania will have to deal with several major issues such as Brexit, the negotiations over the Multiannual Financial Framework, migration, EU enlargement and security.

Also in Brussels, on Tuesday, the Romanian PM Viorica Dancila gave assurances that the rule of law in Romania was being observed and that Romanias priorities were the fight against corruption and upholding citizens rights.

PM Viorica Dancila: “The rule of law is being observed in Romania and I can guarantee that the anti-corruption fight, the rule of law, as well as the rights of the citizens will be my main priority. All the accusations that the Romanian government fails to accomplish its mission are unsubstantiated.”

As to Romanias Schengen accession, PM Dancila pointed out that Bucharest had already met the criteria for accession in 2011, but Romanias joining the agreement is being delayed for political reasons.

PM Viorica Dancila: “Romania has met all the requirements, just like all the members of the Schengen Area. I think its high time for a political decision to take Romania into the Schengen Area”.

During her visit to Brussels, PM Dancila had talks with several European officials about the future of Europe.