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EP's Tajani to Dancila: Romanian gov't to continue enhancement of rule of law, anti-corruption fight
The European Parliament's President Antonio Tajani on Tuesday said that he asked the Romanian government to continue the enhancement of the rule of law and the anti-corruption fight.
"I've asked the Romanian gov't to continue to enhance the rule of law, to continue the fight against corruption for transparence and competitiveness. Mrs. Prime Minister assured me of her availability towards the collaboration with the European Parliament and in connection with the readiness to come to the Parliament's plenary session to talk about Romania's projects and for a debate related to the future of Europe, Antonio Tajani said, at a joint news conference with Viorica Dancila.
At the end of the meeting with Prime Minister Viorica Dancila, Tajani also said that the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council in 2019 is important first of all for the adoption of the multiannual financial framework before the European Parliament (EP) elections, adding that the EP counts on working with the Romanian presidency to achieve this goal.
"We stressed the importance of the Romanian presidency, first of all for the adoption of the multiannual financial framework. The Parliament insists on the final approval of the multiannual financial framework before the European elections, so in this mandate, and we also count on the cooperation with the Romanian presidency. We also discussed about the need for the European budget to grow, but we would not want the money to come from the citizens' pocket, but as the Parliament will propose over the next few days, by taxing the digital economy," the EP president said in a joint press declaration with the Romanian prime minister.
According to Tajani, another point of talks with Prime Minister Dancila addressed the Brexit file.
"We have talked about another important element that will be Brexit. The vote of the European Parliament will mean the end of this process and the collaboration with the Romanian presidency will be extremely important also from this point of view," the EP President said.
He also stressed that the Romanian presidency of the EU Council "will also have an important role to play in the integration process of the Balkans."
"It will continue what the Bulgarian and Austrian presidencies will do, and given that Romania has an in-depth knowledge of the Balkan realities," said Antonio Tajani.
Premier Viorica Dancila stated on Tuesday after the meeting she had in Brussels with the President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, that she talked to the latter about the Romanian Presidency at the Council of European Union Romania is due to take over as of 1 January 2019.
"We talked about Romania's Presidency on 1 January 2019, about the challenges Romania must meet, the Brexit, the multiannual financial framework. I was in complete agreement with Mr. President Antonio Tajani regarding the budget increase or the maintenance of the budget at the same level, but at the same time, the upholding of the common cohesion and agricultural policies. I believe good cooperation is beneficial to Europe, is good for Romania, and the fact that my first visit as Prime Minister was here in Brussels, with the European institutions, shows the European dimension that I want to instill the Gov't I am leading. I am convinced that there will be a good collaboration, I am convinced that the President of the European Parliament will get involved in helping us with regard to the Presidency of Council of the European Union," Viorica Dancila told a joint press conference with the President of the European Parliament.
The Romanian premier highlighted that, given the 2019 Romanian Presidency and the challenges on the EU agenda, she will come to speak in the European Parliament about "Europe's future of which Romania must be an active part, an involved part."
"Meanwhile, I am convinced that together we will make all the efforts to conclude a political agreement as regards the multiannual financial framework during Romania's Presidency," Dancila further stated.
Still on Tuesday, Prime Minister Viorica Dancila had a meeting with President of the European Council Donald Tusk, at the institution's seat.
Prime Minister Dancila is on a two-day official visit in Brussels on Tuesday and Wednesday.