President Klaus Iohannis said in Brussels, that “after certain disruptions”, the preparations for Romania’s taking over the presidency of the Council of the European Union are “in an advanced stage”.
Asked if Romania is prepared to take over the presidency of the EU Council, Iohannis specified: “We are ready. There is always room for improvement, but I would like to say very honestly that, after certain disruptions that occurred and that I highlighted at the time, preparations are in an advanced stage. Right before arriving here, at the Council’s seat, I had a discussion on this topic with the minister-delegate for European Affairs, as well as with madam Ambassador Odobescu, and other colleagues.”
The head of state specified that “the wheels are in motion” in this area.
“The wheels are in motion and I think that this is good news – both for Romanians – but also I think that for our European partners. Even if we have, domestically, difficult approaches in some areas, as regards the presidency we are reasonably well prepared and we will complete our mission,” Iohannis declared, upon arriving at the meeting of the European Council in Brussels.
Iohannis on Dancila’s call for decency against backdrop of takeover of Council of EU Presidency: It was a cute speech. We are reasonably well-prepared for the presidency of the Council of the EU and we will carry things through
Asked for his comments on Premier Dancila’s call for decency against the backdrop of taking over the presidency of the Council of the EU, President Klaus Iohannis stated on Thursday that speeches on consensus and world peace are becoming a constant for the Head of Government, adding that it was “a cute speech.” In what concerns the presidency of the Council of the EU, the Head of State pointed out that we are reasonably well-prepared and we will carry things through.
“This speech on consensus and world peace is becoming a constant discourse for the Prime Minister. It was a cute speech,” Iohannis stated.
In what concerns the presidency of the Council of the EU, the Head of State said that “we are reasonably well-prepared and we will carry things through.”
On Wednesday, while presenting in Parliament the Working Programme of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Premier Viorica Dancila asked for decency in political discourse and refrainment from actions that may affect Romania’s image.
“Hence it is important to show the whole of Europe that Romania is a country worthy of leading the Union, a country worthy of contributing decisively to the future of the European space whose members we too are. As I said before, I believe in consensus, balance and cooperation. In relation to this important stake for our country, there is no longer room for egos or political resentments, for personal interests or sterile confrontations. I reiterate my call for political peace, the call for consensus that I issued during the solemn meeting organised by Parliament on the occasion of the Centenary Year. We have a national project that calls for this. Regardless of your political opinions, please think primarily about our joint interest as a European Union member state; I’m only asking you to show decency in political discourse and to abstain during this period from launching actions or political messages that may affect Romania’s image,” Dancila stated.
Declaration on parliamentary dimension of rotating Presidency of EU Council, adopted by Senate and Deputies’ Chamber
The joint plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies and Senate adopted, with 215 votes “in favor” , 8 “against” and 3 abstentions, the Declaration regarding the parliamentary dimension of the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, which Romania will exercise between 1 January – 30 June, 2019.
“Emphasizing the importance of the parliamentary dimension of the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council and expressing Parliament’s willingness to actively collaborate with the Government on all major files and proposed initiatives for the six-month term, Parliament declares its support for the Romanian presidency of the Council of the EU, during its six-month mandate, to ensure economic, social and territorial convergence and cohesion with a view to sustainable and equitable development for all member states by promoting connectivity, digitization, the implementation of regional cooperation projects, stimulating entrepreneurship and the competitiveness of the European economy,” reads the document.
Parliament argues that the agenda of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU will have at the forefront the citizen, and all efforts will focus on the advancement of legislative and non-legislative files that will bring tangible results to European citizens, thus leading to a stronger, more democratic Union, closer to its citizens.
The Legislative also states in the document that it encourages the Romanian Government to make constant efforts to adopt balanced measures in order to preserve the unity among the member states of the European Union and to implement the strategy and priorities of the Union while at the same time concentrating its efforts on achieving successful results during the six-month presidency. It assures that Romania will work consistently with the other member states to strengthen the EU’s global role by ensuring a coherent external and security policy and undertaking ambitious joint commitments in view of developing EU partnerships with third countries and international organizations, proposing actions aimed at prosperity and stability and in the interests of citizens.
Parliament undertakes to make every effort to ensure European unity and solidarity for a Union that is safer, more prosperous and more prepared “for the new security challenges that threaten the safety of the citizen and of the Union by supporting security and justice cooperation initiatives.”
Parliament also says it will ensure that the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council will watch over the full observance of the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the EU Treaties as regards the freedom of movement of persons, goods, services and capital, promoting mobility as a vector of cohesion at European level, including in terms of the labor market.
“We will continue to support the European aspirations of the Republic of Moldova by continuously promoting this topic on the European agenda. (…) Building upon institutional collaboration, the ministers will periodically inform the specialized parliamentary committees and political party groups on the progress made in the implementation of the priorities of the Romanian presidency and the main developments of the important themes on the European agenda, and the results of the EU Council meetings in all its formats will be presented in the plenary session of the Romanian Parliament (…) Based on the institutional collaboration, the President of Romania is invited to inform Parliament on the debates and decisions of the European Councils for the duration of the mandate,” the document further shows.
PM Dancila: Together, in cooperation with those who wish to cooperate, we will act for stronger Europe
Prime Minister Viorica Dancila declared on Thursday, that Romania is on the homestretch as regards the taking over and exercising of the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, highlighting that action will be taken for a stronger Europe.
“We are in the homestretch as regards Romania’s taking over and exercising the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union. I would like to thank Parliament for the support reconfirmed yesterday through the vote on the declaration of support of the Presidency’s work program. I have the belief that together, through cooperation with those who wish to cooperate, we will have a consensus, we will act for a stronger, safer Europe, economic-wise and socially, for the consolidation of cohesion and I firmly believe that only together will we be able to meet the challenges at European level, and I am certain that each of the Cabinet ministers will give a positive reply to the files that are on each Ministry’s work table,” Dancila said at the start of the Government sitting.
