London: the presentation of the priorities was followed by a gala concert given by EUYO – The European Union Youth Orchestra
A presentation of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU by the diplomatic missions of Romania abroad is available here.
Presentation of the priorities of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU by the diplomatic missions of Romania abroad
ATHENS On January 15, 2019, in Athens, the Diplomatic Mission of Romania to Greece marked Romania’s taking over the Presidency of the Council of the EU #RO2019UE with an extraordinary concert given by Preludiu Chamber Choir conducted by Voicu Enăchescu
BULGARIA On January 1, 2019, the European Commission Representation in Sofia hosted a public event introducing the priorities of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The key speaker in the event was Lilyana Pavlova, minister for the Bulgarian Presidency of CONS UE in 2018. The event enjoyed the participation of more than 150 guests, representatives of the diplomatic corps, the Bulgarian authorities, civil society and the mass media. The head of the mission, Ion Gâlea, introduced the priorities of PRES RO to the audience.
CYPRUS The chargé d’affaires a.i. Daniela-Mariana Sezonov-Țane presented the priorities of PRES RO in an event hosted by the European Commission Permanent Representation in Cyprus. The event was attended by officials from Nicosia and representatives of the diplomatic corps. On the same occasion, two accomplished Romanian musicians, Remus Azoiței and Eduard Stan, a cellist and a pianist, performed in Kasteliotissa Hall from Nicosia in a concert called “A Romanian Genius in Vienna and Paris”.
DENMARK The Romanian Embassy to Denmark marked our country’s taking over the Presidency of the Council of the EU through a high-level event, bringing together the ambassadors of EU member states and EU candidate countries, NATO ambassadors in Copenhagen, numerous representatives of the Danish government and parliament, civil society and the mass media. The special guest in the event was Per Stig Møller, former Danish foreign minister (2001-2010). The Romanian Ambassador to Copenhagen Alexandru Grădinar presented our country’s vision as reflected in the Programme of Priorities of the Presidency of the Council of the EU, which focuses on the principle of European cohesion at all levels. The event also included a vocal and instrumental recital in which there performed pianist Bogdan Nicola, countertenor Andrei Venczel, bass-baritone Avram Benjamin Molonfănean and baritone Vlad Alexandru Robu, all of them young talented Romanian musicians living in Denmark.
FRANCE Tens of European diplomats accredited in Paris attended on Wednesday, January 16, an event introducing the priorities of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union hosted by the Romanian Embassy from Paris. Ambassador Luca Niculescu and Lelia Constantinescu, counsellor for European affairs, highlighted the key axes structuring the Romanian Presidency that started on January 1. The speakers recalled the complex context in which this mandate was placed (Brexit, negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework, the European elections) and the ambitions of the Romanian Presidency, crystallised in the slogan “Cohesion, a Common European value”.
THE UNITED KINGDOM In the presence of Romania’s partners from British institutions and representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited to the UK, the Romanian Ambassador to the UK Dan Mihalache presented the priorities of #RO2019EU. The embassy and the Romanian Cultural Institute form London co-organised a gala concert given by EOYO – The European Union Youth Orchestra – one of the highly acclaimed symphonic orchestras performing on the most prestigious international art stages. Eight of EUYO gifted young musicians played George Enescu’s well-known Octet.
THE NETHERLANDS On January 15, 2019, the European Commission Representation in The Hague hosted the local launch of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU. The event was marked by the symbolic handing over of the Presidency by Heidemaria Gürer, the Austrian ambassador in The Hague to Brândușa Predescu, the Romanian ambassador to the Netherlands. The event was attended by the Director General for European Cooperation within the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Matthijs van der Plas, ambassadors of EU member states accredited in The Hague and the Head of the European Commission Representation in the Hague Klasja van de Ridder. The beginning of the Romanian presidency was also marked in The Hague by the opening of a contemporary art exhibition “Colour Fields”, made up of works signed Radu Comşa and Simion Cernica.
PORTUGAL On Thursday, January 18, there took place in Lisbon the presentation event of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The event enjoyed the participation of the State Secretary for European Affairs form the Portuguese MoFA Ana Paula Zacarias and of the Head of the European Commission Representation in Lisbon Sofia Colares Alves. There followed an extraordinary gala concert given by Bălănescu Quartet in Dom Luís I Hall of the Prestigious Ajuda National Palace. The programme consisted of compositions form “Maria Tănase”, “The Enescu Project” and “Luminitza” albums. The closing piece, “Ode to…”, an adaption of Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”, the anthem of the European Union, was specially arranged for this occasion by Alexandru Bălănescu.
SERBIA The Romanian Ambassador to the Republic of Serbia Oana Cristina Popa presented the priorities of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in a reception that the embassy organised on the premises of Yugoslavian Film Archives Museum on the evening of January 16. Besides the Romanian ambassador, among the high officials who attended the event and addressed the audience there were the head of the European Delegation to Serbia, Ambassador Sem Fabrizi and the Serbian Minister for European Integration Jadranka Joksimović. The event was attended by about 200 guests representing the Serbian institutions, the diplomatic corps, the local Romanian communities and expats in Serbia.
SPAIN On January 17, 2019, the European Commission Representation in Madrid hosted the local launch of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU. The Romanian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain Gabriela Dancău presented the priorities of the Romanian Presidency of the EU, the main elements included in its programme and agenda and highlighted that Romania embarked on the Presidency of the Council of the EU with a realistic and ambitious approach and promoted a citizen-centred and future-oriented agenda. The audience was addressed by the secretary of state for European affairs from the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation as well as by other high officials.