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We see in the European Union a guarantor of democracy, security, peace, well-being and progress.
This is the raison d'être of the European project, which has not lost its relevance for the Member States and European citizens over time, and which we have to keep in mind in order to restore our confidence in today's Union. The European Union is the "guardian" of the European model of life, which, by its force of attraction, continues to represent, globally, our most valuable asset, and which, through its transforming force, has initiated major structural changes in the Member States, in the aspiring states, in the neighborhood, but also in remote parts of the world. On the other hand, the European Union has faced in recent years a series of imbalances that have led to weakening people's trust in the European project and in its ability and in our ability to find the best solutions for prosperity, security and social justice. Among these imbalances, the migration crisis played a major role, generating tensions at European level, which in turn led to the development of xenophobic trends, euroscepticism, populism, and radical political trends. I would like to also mention the issue of the deficit of trust, considered against the background of the external interference phenomenon in our electoral processes unfolding, both European and at the level of the Member States, as well as in the context of increased propagation of fake news and disinformation. |
Romania, as Presidency-in-Office of the Council of the European Union, has made efforts since the first days of mandate to combat this challenge, which has been intensively debated in all European institutions.
As a result of these efforts, the General Affairs Council succeeded in adopting important conclusions on ensuring free and fair elections, with a focus on combating disinformation. In order to build citizens' trust in the European Union, we need to create an European area of genuine communication, free of any interference. At present, we are all convinced that the European project needs a new impetus, vision of the future, based on this common vision of long-term solutions. Romania, as the Presidency-in-Office of the Council of the European Union, has the responsibility but also the chance to actively participate in formulating this vision of EU future. The debate on EU’s future is an opportunity to enhance European inclusion and cohesion, in order that all member states may find themselves in this construction. A solid construction for a future Europe should besides the principle of cohesion, offer the possibility of expressing individual diversity and specificity, which, brought together, should create a harmonious, homogenous and coherent project. |
The accepted meaning of the cohesion concept was transposed in a transversal manner within our thematic priorities. It also reflects in our perception on the global role of the European Union.
The continuation of the enlargement policy, observance of EU commitments in its southern and eastern neighborhoods, promotion of the multilateral system based on rules, maintaining a solid transatlantic partnership are in Romania’s view, central elements for designing a better future for Europe. Ladies and gentlemen, As we are at the end of the legislative cycle, we plan in the first part of the mandate of our presidency, to focus on advancing the current European agenda, especially on legislative drafts that are almost completed or in an advanced negotiation stage at the level of the Council or the European Parliament. Since the start of the presidency, we have managed alongside the other member states and in cooperation with the other European institutions, to conclude the negotiations on 81 legislative dossiers, many of them with major impact at European level, with impact on the life of the citizens. I would only mention some of them, respectively in the energy field: Natural Gas Directive, in the field of the single market: The Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market, in the labor field- Regulation establishing a European Labour Authority. |
Significant results have also been achieved in the banking area: respectively the Banking Package, the Legislative Package on the Capital Markets Union, in the IT area: the regulation package on the interoperability of the EU’s information systems, in the political area: amendments to the legislation on the status and funding of political parties and foundations; Council’s conclusions on ensuring free and fair elections with a focus on combating disinformation, and also in the field of research and innovation, - the Council’s conclusions on artificial intelligence. Through the efforts made and the results achieved so far, we can demonstrate that our presidency is a presidency of efficiency and quality which, in close collaboration with the other member states and with all European institutions, delivers in a consensual manner, the awaited results, desired and useful results for the member states, the citizens and the business environment. The confidence in such concrete results, achieved in a manner designed to unite us at European level, represents a solid ground on which to build the path to Sibiu (Summit)agenda which would lead us to a better Europe in the future, closer to its citizens. I hope that today’s debate, your opinions, recommendations are found in the project of the European future. I would like to thank you and wish you greater success on today’s discussions! |
In consultation, every Presidency sets its priorities. Romania's priorities are:
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