MINISTER TITUS CORLĂŢEAN AT THE KICK-OFF CONFERENCE FOR THE LITHUANIAN PRESIDENCY OF THE EU COUNCIL
The Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Titus Corlăţean, took part today, 8 July 2013, at the kick-off conference for the Lithuanian Presidency of the EU Council, an event organized in Bucharest by the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania and the European Commission Representation in Romania. The Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania in Bucharest,Vladimir Jarmolenko, as well as members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Bucharest participated in the conference.
Minister Corlăţean expressed his support for the priority agenda of the Lithuanian Presidency of the EU Council. In this context, he recalled the substantial talks he had on this topic during his visit to Lithuania (29 May 2013). Minister Titus Corlăţean stated that, to implement the agenda in the context of multiple challenges, the Lithuanian Presidency must have a pragmatic and ambitious spirit. To that effect, the motto of the Presidency, “A credible, growing and open Europe”, briefly expresses the goals of the Union, which are Romania’s goals as well: financial stability and strengthening the Economic and Monetary Union; employment, competitiveness and efficiency; security and cooperation in Europe and in the neighborhood.”
The Foreign Minister expressed Romania’s support so that the Eastern Partnership Summit due in Vilnius in November 2013 could be a successful one with tangible results in the relationship with the partners of the Union. The Minister also stated that Romania pursued the acknowledgement of progress achieved by the Republic of Moldova in its relation with the European Union, as a matter of priority. To that effect, Romania supports the endorsement of the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement during the Vilnius Summit, as well as the submission of an ambitious calendar to ratify those documents in 2014.
The Foreign Minister highlighted that Romania would pay close attention to the measures taken during the Lithuanian Presidency aimed at economic stability and growth, as well as job creation.
The Minister emphasized that, despite the economic context of the Union, by combining fiscal consolidation efforts with structural reforms aimed at increasing competitiveness, Romania managed to be taken out of the excessive budgetary deficit procedure. At the same time, according to the spring estimates of the European Commission, there are positive economic growth prospects for Romania.
As regards the negotiations for the multiannual financial framework, the Foreign Minister emphasized that this instrument should be used to launch the projects required for economic growth and expressed the support for the Lithuanian Presidency’s efforts to duly adopt the legislative package on implementing the future budgetary exercise.
In reference to the Lithuanian Presidency goal to progress with the implementation of macro-regional strategies, the Foreign Minister emphasized that the EU’s Danube Strategy was an essential instrument to develop this region and recalled that the second Annual Forum of the strategy and the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Danube states would take place in Bucharest in October 2013.
In connection with Romania and Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen area, Titus Corlăţean highlighted that it is an important goal for Romania as accession stands for a legitimate expectation, taking into account that Romania fulfilled all requirements provided in the Schengen acquis: “We count on the active involvement of the Lithuanian Presidency to identify a consensual solution for this case.”
Minister Corlăţean pleaded for substantial progress in point of the European Union enlargement policy, as a determining factor in advancing ambitious and long-term reforms.
The Foreign Minister of Romania wished success to the Lithuanian Presidency team and reiterated Romania’s support for the attainment of the shared goals of creating a Europe that is credible, close to the citizens, based on respect for the principles of unity and solidarity, as well as the European fundamental values.
http://www.mae.ro/en/node/20799
