The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Teodor Meleșcanu, presented the external relations priorities of the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council in the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs/AFET on Tuesday, January 22, 2019; the activity is traditionally organised for the rotating presidency of the EU Council.
At the opening of the session, the Romanian official outlined the complex European context, with its numerous challenges, in which Romania holds the Presidency of the EU Council for the first time. The foreign minister reviewed the external relations priorities of the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council, stating that Romania will support the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini.
Minister Teodor Meleșcanu explained that Romania will support the strengthening of the global role of the EU by promoting the enlargement policy and actions of the Union in the neighbourhood, including by furthering the implementation of the Global strategy and global commitments of the EU. He pointed out that, to this end, Romania will focus on the Western Balkans region and on ensuring the consistency of the EU policy in the eastern and southern neighbourhoods, but also on strengthening the EU presence in the multilateral architecture.
Moreover, the Romanian official highlighted Romania’s role as a member of the Trans-Atlantic Community, deeply committed to supporting the EU-NATO partnership, including in terms of synergy and complementarity of efforts made by the two organisations.
“Romania’s priorities for this mandate reflect our ambitions as a EU member state, as well as our steadfast vision concerning the future of the European Union,” Teodor Meleșcanu stated.
Moreover, the Romanian official expressed Romania’s openness to actively and constructively work together with the European Parliament in the interest of European citizens.
The presentation made by the Romanian minister was followed by an exchange of views with the AFET members, in the format of a session of questions and answers on the main topics of interest for the AFET members.