Strategy for Romania’s Future

Romania's future in the EU discussed by President Iohannis, PM Ciolos and leading politicians

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Corina Cristea, 05.07.2016, 13:09

Ten years after its EU accession, Romania does not yet have a national strategy to outline its future in Europe, and this has to change, President Klaus Iohannis said on Monday, during a new round of consultations with the PM, the Central Bank Governor and the leaders of the main parties in Parliament, after Britains EU referendum. The head of state believes Romania needs a post-accession strategy and suggested, during the consultations, that a task force should be set up to this end.

Klaus Iohannis: “Unfortunately, in Romania weve had a lot of so-called country projects, which have neither lasted, nor been implemented, because there was no political consensus in this respect. This time, we will join forces and draw up a strategy to guide Romania within the EU in the medium and long run, to define Romanias place, role and ambitions in the Union.

The idea enjoys political consensus, the President also said, and added that this is what the previous strategies lacked, and what prevented their implementation.

Klaus Iohannis: “The best would be for this task force to be subordinated to the Presidency, given that this year we have parliamentary elections. I would also like to emphasise the very constructive nature of these talks, and the fact that all political leaders have embraced this project. Such a national strategy may only work if all stakeholders adopt, approve and support it.

The country project coordinated by President Klaus Iohannis will broadly define Romanias goals in the forthcoming years, and will include an economic component, among other things, PM Ciolos said in his turn, just one day before launching a public debate on a strategy entitled “Competitive Romania: a project for sustainable economic growth, which, he explained, will be a component of the country project.

Dacian Ciolos mentioned that, at the start of his term in office, the Cabinet announced public debates on two topics, namely a plan for Romanias economic development and the countrys position within the EU ahead of the Romanian presidency of the EU Council in 2019. These two topics, PM Ciolos said, are in line with what President Klaus Iohannis has suggested.