RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Debates on the multi-speed Europe

The conference dubbed “Ever Closer Union – The Legacy of the Treaties of Rome for Todays Europe was held in Bucharest on Monday.

Debates on the multi-speed Europe
Debates on the multi-speed Europe

, 28.03.2017, 13:19

The Romanian Foreign Ministry and the European Commission representation in Bucharest on Monday held a debate on the EU’s evolution. Attending was also Romanian Minister for European Affairs, Ana Birchall. She said that in the ten years that have elapsed since its EU accession, Romania had tried to show that it was a credible partner dedicated to European efforts. She recalled the opinion polls conducted at European level showing that the Romanians’ confidence in the EU had constantly been above the European average. The Minister for European Affairs went on to say that Romania would actively participate in any project aimed to strengthen the Union’s unity and would further be a firm advocate of the initiatives of cohesion and bridging the development gaps among the member states.



On the other hand, Ana Birchall said that the EU’s position on the international scene would be weakened if artificial barriers were imposed dividing the member states into groups according to the notion of a “multi-speed Europe”, constantly put forth by EU leaders, a notion that has recently been given up. The Rome Declaration signed by the 27 EU member states last week highlights the Union’s unity. However, the Rome Declaration also says, “We will act together at different paces and intensity where necessary”.



Ana Birchall: “Romania will actively participate in any project meant to strengthen the unity of our big European families. We cannot imagine the future outside the EU. No EU reform process must impair its basic values and freedoms. However, there is the risk of a reform focusing on moving forward in restricted formats and of the rights of some of the EU citizens being affected.”



Attending the debates, the head of the European Commission Representation in Bucharest, Angela Cristea, has explained that at present the EU member states and the European institutions are using the same terms but with different meanings in their debates on the future.



Angela Cristea: “One of the EU’s strong, fundamental values is the rule of law. Everybody promotes the rule of law and the basic rights, but does everybody have the same definition, the same understanding of those concepts? It would be helpful for us to make sure we understand the same concepts. That is also the purpose of the five scenarios on the EU’s future, to make sure that they give rise to debates on various perceptions of what we expect from the EU”



Romania has opposed a multi-speed Europe from the very beginning. A few days ago, president Klaus Iohannis warned that if that scenario had further been pursued, the EU would have taken steps back and the East European states would have been the losers.


(Translated by Anamaria Palcu)

Klaus Iohannis, at the EPC summit (Budapest, Hungary)
Today in the News Friday, 08 November 2024

EPC meeting in Budapest

European leaders met in Budapest to discuss security challenges facing Europe, with an emphasis on the situation in Ukraine, as well as the issues of...

EPC meeting in Budapest
Photo: pixabay.com
Today in the News Friday, 08 November 2024

Romania, from wages to youth unemployment

Data from the Statistical Office of the European Union – Eurostat show that the adjusted average annual full-time salary of Romanians is the fourth...

Romania, from wages to youth unemployment
Donald Trump (Photo: Facebook / Donald J. Trump)
Today in the News Thursday, 07 November 2024

Reactions to the election of Donald Trump

Many political leaders around the world have reacted by congratulating the Republican Donald Trump, who announced his victory in the US presidential...

Reactions to the election of Donald Trump
Foto: pixabay.com
Today in the News Thursday, 07 November 2024

Farmers and the Common Agricultural Policy

The Romanian Minister of Agriculture Florin Barbu and the European Commissioner for Agriculture, the Polish Janusz Wojciechowski, who is on formal...

Farmers and the Common Agricultural Policy
Today in the News Wednesday, 06 November 2024

Roxana Mînzatu, endorsed by the Romanian Parliament

Romanian Government’s proposal for the position of European Commissioner in the future Community Executive, the Social Democrat Roxana Mînzatu has...

Roxana Mînzatu, endorsed by the Romanian Parliament
Today in the News Wednesday, 06 November 2024

Japanese Investments in Energy and Technology

Important Japanese companies have expressed their interest, these days, in Bucharest, to invest in Romania, in transport infrastructure, energy,...

Japanese Investments in Energy and Technology
Today in the News Tuesday, 05 November 2024

NATO must stay united

NATO will work with the winner of the US elections, whoever that person may be and will do its best to stay united, NATO secretary general Mark Rutte...

NATO must stay united
Today in the News Monday, 04 November 2024

Moldova stays on path to Europe

Moldova’s pro-European president Maia Sandu won a new  4-year term in Sunday’s second round run-off, with over 55% of the votes cast in the...

Moldova stays on path to Europe

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