Statement by Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, on the death of His Majesty King Michael I of Romania

Brussels, December 5, 2017

It is with deep sadness that I learned of the death of His Majesty King Michael I of Romania whom I had the chance to know.

I am fondly remembering our meetings and, in particular, I would like to pay tribute to his role when, in 1997, he undertook a tour of European capitals to promote Romania's entry into the European Union. Twenty-two years later, his beloved country will, for the first time in the first half of 2019, hold the presidency of the European Union. This will be an important moment for Romania and an important moment for the future of our Union.

The memory of King Michael, who went through the most tragic periods of European history of the 20th century, will then be more than ever present in our thoughts. On my own behalf and on behalf of the European Commission, I offer my family and the Romanians my sincere condolences.

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