Klaus Iohannis: Romania is deeply committed to the advancement of all EU priorities for the period 2024 – 2029

“We met today in Bucharest, as part of the exercise to prepare the priorities of the European Union for the next institutional cycle, the so-called Strategic Agenda of the European Union for the period 2024-2029, under the coordination of the President of the European Council, Mr. Charles Michel. We will host together the prime ministers of Belgium, Hungary and Croatia in the context of a wider process of consultations with the leaders of the member states of the European Union. The conclusions of these consultations, including the conclusions of today’s debates, will be reflected in the strategic document to be adopted by the European Council, probably at the end of June. As you may remember, five years ago, on the occasion of the informal Summit in Sibiu, we laid the foundations of the current Strategic Agenda of the Union, in which we then agreed to work together, at the European level, to protect citizens and freedoms, develop a basis solid economies, building a green, fair, social and neutral Europe from the point of view of the impact on the climate and for the promotion of European interests and values ​​at the global level”, stated Klaus Iohannis, in a press conference held together with the President of the Council European Charles Michel, Wednesday at the Cotroceni Palace.

“Today, however, we have an essential change compared to the situation five years ago, we are in a regional and international context affected by Russia’s war against Ukraine, by the multiple consequences of this war of aggression. We are therefore forced, for the first time, to carry out this exercise of joint reflection against the backdrop of a war taking place in our immediate vicinity, at the borders of the European Union. But it is not the only challenge that we will have to think about and respond to in the perspective of the future institutional cycle, which we will enter after the European elections in June. We must not forget the difficulties and crises of recent years related to the COVID-19 pandemic, economic and social developments, the energy crisis, natural disasters caused by climate change, illegal migration or hybrid threats. These are just a few examples that illustrate the need for action on multiple levels and the need for coordination. As such, in the spirit imprinted in this exercise of reflection since Sibiu, we must remain committed to making all efforts together to protect our values, the European spirit and democracy, hard-won in some member states, all in order to become stronger in the next five years”, explained Klaus Iohannis.