Europe renews its commitment to unity

The EU Summit in Sibiu continues on May 10

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Ştefan Stoica, 10.05.2019, 13:50

The city of
Sibiu in central Romania on Thursday, May 9, became the political capital of
the European Union, a community that is trying to regain its strength and
reassert itself as a haven of prosperity and the rule of law.

In Sibiu EU
leaders adopted a Declaration comprising 10 commitments focusing, among other
things, on defense, solidarity in difficult times, openness to find joint
solutions, protecting democracy and the rule of law, observing fairness and
safeguarding the future for the next generations of Europeans.

We will defend
one Europe, from East to West, from North to South. Thirty years ago millions
of people fought for their freedom and for unity and brought down the Iron
Curtain, which had divided Europe for decades. There is no place for divisions
that work against our collective interest, one of the points in the
Declaration reads.

EU leaders
further argue that the Union of today is stronger than that of yesterday and
we want to continue to build its strength for tomorrow. This is our commitment
for the future generations. This is the spirit of Sibiu and of a new Union of
27 ready to embrace its future as one, the document also reads. President Klaus
Iohannis, a former mayor of Sibiu for many years, hailed the positive message
the EU has sent from Sibiu to consolidate the Union based on a clear set of
principles and values. The President also referred to the upcoming strategic
agenda of the EU.

Klaus Iohannis: We
want a strategic agenda that should reflect our ambitions for the future of the
European Union, one that should bring real benefits to all EU citizens. In that
sense, we believe that the new strategic agenda should focus on promoting an
increase in convergence across the community bloc, consolidating the single
market, strengthening the internal security of the Union and ensuring an
effective foreign policy.

In turn,
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, who is nearing the end of
his term in office, said the unity expressed at the summit is not just for
show, but real and robust. Saying that everything is going wrong wouldn’t be
exact, the same as saying that everything is going well, President Juncker
argued. In turn, European Council President Donald Tusk delivered a speech in
Romanian:

Donald Tusk: When
we met in January, at the beginning of your Presidency – when I spoke with such
conviction, and so emotionally about Romania – I was speaking with confidence,
because I know that you are truly remarkable. You have organized an exceptional
summit and you can be proud of your work, just as Europe is proud of you. I
have fallen in love with Sibiu, the whole of Europe has fallen in love with
you.

European Union
leaders will meet on May 28 after the European Parliament election to agree on
the configuration of the upcoming Commission.