On May 3-5, 2019, in the context of Romania’s office as rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Ministry for Romanians Abroad (MRA) organised in the city of Bacău the EU expert meeting on the contribution of different categories of European citizens to the development of their host country. Housed by the Business and Exhibitions Centre of Bacău and by the County Council and supported by the CC, the Town Hall and the Prefect’s Institution, the debates had at core topics such as capitalising on the cultural, economic, social and educational contributions made by the Romanian citizens and the citizens of the countries with a significant diaspora, as well as good practice exchange among European experts.
State Secretary Lilla Debelka and Deputy State Secretary Victor Ionescu presented the priorities of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union as well as the outcomes of the two events organised by the MRA during the months already elapsed from the term of the Romanian office.
The discussions focused on the existing good practice in encouraging different categories of European citizens to conduct successful activities in their host countries. The speakers recalled the relationships between the citizens and the authorities of the countries of residence. “Many Member State governments have strongly supported their citizens who are choosing to work, study or live abroad. Considering the full commitment of the MRA to the collective challenge of supporting the Romanians abroad, I believe that, together with our partners, we will identify common solutions or strategies to address these challenges”, stated State Secretary Lilla Debelka.
“This meeting was an opportunity to exchange European good practice on the value of the diaspora, regardless whether we are talking about achievements in the economic, cultural or educational fields. As part of its efforts under the rotating Council Presidency, the MRA has aimed at putting the diaspora on the European agenda and paving the way to enabling EU-wide cooperation in the field of diaspora-oriented policies. I believe that this meeting will be conducive to debates and ideas that will be successfully implemented, both for the benefit of all the Romanians living abroad and of all the EU citizens”, emphasised Deputy State Secretary Victor Ionescu. The Bacău meeting is the second expert meeting and the third meeting organised by the MRA in the context of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The event was attended by experts of EU Member States, representatives of the Romanian Parliament, of the county authorities, of the academic world and of the MRA partner institutions.