RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Romania takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union

The rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union will be held, for the first time, by Romania

Romania takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union
Romania takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union

, 31.12.2018, 10:54

Romania, which joined the community bloc on January 1, 2007, will hold for the first time the half-yearly rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which it will take over from Austria and hand over to Finland. The President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, has recalled that during this time span, Brexit will have to be officially managed, in March. The main guidelines for the 2021-2027 financial framework will also be set and a coherent strategy on migration will be drafted. A total number of 257 files will be debated in four months alone, because the campaign for the European Parliamentary elections starts in May. One of the key actors with respect to the Presidency file, the minister delegate for European Affairs, George Ciamba, has explained, on Radio Romania, that Bucharest wants to create a budget negotiation framework.



George Ciamba: “What we are actually receiving from the Austrian Presidency now is only an inventory of all problems and related issues that can emerge and others that the Member Countries would like to include in various sets of policies, including the set regarding allocations.”



In turn, the Romanian Foreign Minister, Teodor Meleşcanu, has announced in an exclusive interview on Radio Romania, that he would like the Black Sea area to become a priority area for the European Union, too, just as it is for NATO.



Teodor Meleşcanu: “One of our main preoccupations during Romania’s tenure will be to come up with proposals on boosting cooperation in the Black Sea area in general as well as confidence among the Member Countries, promoting tourism, enhancing interconnectivity in the field of energy, as well as the EU’s direct cooperation with regional structures. We would like the EU to get more involved in these regional formats.”



The official site of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union has already been officially launched. The page, available in Romanian, English and French at romania2019.eu, contains useful information for journalists, experts on European affairs and the public at large. The timetable of the Romanian Presidency will be posted on this website after December 15. On Saturday, ministers Meleşcanu and Ciamba issued a joint declaration saying that holding the presidency is not an internal fighting instrument, but a major country and European project.



The declaration was made following public debates stirred by a recent statement made by the EC President Jean Claude Juncker, who said he has doubts that the left-of centre government in Romania fully understands what it means to lead the community bloc. Juncker said however that technically, Romania is ready for this mission, but the internal political dispute leaves the impression Romania is not a united entity on the European scene. Now, there are six months left for the political class in Bucharest to prove the contrary.

November 1 - National Radio Day
Today in the News Friday, 01 November 2024

Radio Romania 96

Radio Romania has celebrated 96 years since it first entered the listeners houses from Romania and abroad. On November 1 1928 the Romanians were able...

Radio Romania 96
(Photo: pixabay@Engin_Akyurt)
Today in the News Thursday, 31 October 2024

Romanians’ concerns

Romanians and Austrians are the most satisfied with their lives among the inhabitants of Central and Eastern Europe, but the former are significantly...

Romanians’ concerns
Elections in Moldova (Photo: Radio Chișinău)
Today in the News Thursday, 31 October 2024

Republic of Moldova, crucial final

On November 3, the citizens of the Republic of Moldova have to choose, for the position of head of state, between the pro-European Maia Sandu, the...

Republic of Moldova, crucial final
Foto: Baza 71 Aeriană / MApn
Today in the News Wednesday, 30 October 2024

Drones, a security issue

The Romanian Ministry of National Defense has placed under decisional transparency a bill that improves airspace security measures. The bill, which...

Drones, a security issue
Today in the News Wednesday, 30 October 2024

The Fugitive Law is constitutional

The Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) has rejected the referral of the High Court of Cassation and Justice (ICCJ) in relation to the so-called...

The Fugitive Law is constitutional
Today in the News Tuesday, 29 October 2024

Challenges of an ageing population

Romanians are getting fewer and older.   The population of Romania in mid-2024 was 21,779,000, down 1% compared to June 1, 2023. According to...

Challenges of an ageing population
Today in the News Monday, 28 October 2024

Romania sees rising public debt levels

Government debt rose in July to over 876 billion lei (that’s around 175 billion euros), from 860 billion lei in the previous month, according to...

Romania sees rising public debt levels
Today in the News Monday, 28 October 2024

Presidential debate in the Republic of Moldova

An unusual electoral debate, in form, but predictable in content, had as protagonists, on Sunday, the two remaining candidates in the presidential...

Presidential debate in the Republic of Moldova

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company