a few seconds agoRomania's response after criticism of the EU presidency: Political ambitions will not prevent him
Periskopi(7 years ago)
(7 years ago)Political divisions will not undermine the six-month EU presidency, senior officials from Bucharest declared Thursday, as the European Commission voiced concerns about whether the country was ready to lead the bloc by mid-2019. In its first step at the helm of the European Union, Romania faces Brex in [...]
Political divisions will not undermine the six-month EU presidency, senior officials from Bucharest declared Thursday, as the European Commission voiced concerns about whether the country was ready to lead the bloc by mid-2019.
In its first step at the helm of the European Union, Romania faces Brex in March, the European Parliament's May elections and tough talks on the future long-term union budget.
But the EU's second poorest country, which joined the union in 2007, is politically divided and under EU review, on corruption and concerns about the lack of rule of law in the country.
President Klaus Iohannis, a centrist representing Romania at EU summits, has criticised the social democrat government's readiness for the presidency and its plans to improve the judiciary -- issues that concern the EU as well -- broadcasts tch.
The government would prefer the prime minister to represent the country. Some in Brussels believe that political conflicts and rule of law could obscure Romania's main responsibility to seek consensus on various issues among EU governments.
“We will show that Romania is well prepared to manage important files and can create consensus at the European level”, Prime Minister Viorica Dancila said at a ceremony marking the start of the presidency.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, also present, said at the end of last year that the Romanian government “has not fully understood what it means to lead EU countries”.
