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Iohannis: the Brexit withdrawal agreement is the best possible
President Klaus Iohannis attended on Sunday the special meeting of the European Council (Art.50) in Brussels, the Presidential Administration informs. The purpose of this extraordinary meeting was to endorse the draft Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union.
The members of the European Council also discussed the Political Declaration on Future Relationship between the EU and the UK. Following the endorsement of the draft agreement by the EU heads of state in the European Council, the UK withdrawal agreement will be formally approved in the EU Council and the European Parliament and ratified by the British Parliament.
President Klaus Iohannis stated that the Brexit withdrawal agreement is the best possible, pointing out also that non-discrimination between the EU member states was set out in the Political Declaration, providing as example the visa-free travel for the Romanians wishing to visit afterwards.
"Today, we have completed the talks in a record time. The EU-27 EU Council agreed the Withdrawal Agreement draft, endorsed the Political Declaration on future relations. These two very important documents are extremely important. The Withdrawal Agreement is to be used if it gets approved by all Parliaments involved in order to clarify in detail the aspects regarding the UK's withdrawal from the EU, a document which is of great importance for us as well, because it is stipulated, for example, how the Romanians in the UK are to be treated, how the aspects of the Financial Framework in which we are now until 2020 are to be carried out and so many other things, a very comprehensive document, very well drafted. This is a document drawn up in one-and-a-half-year, the limits or the mandate imposed by the European Council at that time were observed very well. (...) It is the best possible Agreement and deserves to be taken as such and it deserves approval," the head of state said after the extraordinary meeting of the European Council (Article 50) in Brussels.
He underscored that little changes for the Romanians residing in the UK.
"If this agreement enters into force, it protects Romanians and other Europeans living in the UK, they are guaranteed all the rights they have obtained. (...) They can work, study, get pensions, insurance. The aspects are clarified in detail and very well. We have been very concerned about these matters and we have successfully insisted up to this stage that these things be cleared very well. Moreover, we have insisted and achieved to clarify non-discrimination between EU members in the Political Declaration on the future relations. For instance, visa-free travel for the Romanians who will later travel to the UK and these things have been clarified in the way we want. This agreement is one that we find appropriate, we find it good and we want it to be approved," Iohannis explained.
The head of state also said that despite achieving a good Agreement, this day cannot be considered a happy one.
"The event remains one that, I think, makes the majority of us sad if we realize its importance, a major member state leaves and that cannot be good news, but beyond this thing, the existence of an agreement would make this separation manageable and achieve a very solid legal foundation. There are further steps to take, the next step will be the approval of this withdrawal agreement in the British Parliament after which (...) the Council of the European Union must formally approve it and the European Parliament has to vote on this agreement," Iohannis stated.
He gave assurances that this Agreement will be completed during Romania's Presidency of the Council of the EU.
"I guarantee you, if it gets approved, the Romanian Presidency [of the EU Council] is to complete it," President Iohannis stated.
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Before leaving for Brussels, President Klaus Iohannis on Friday sent a letter to Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church indicating that he will not take part in the consecration of the People's Salvation Cathedral in Bucharest.
"Your Beatitude, thank you for the warm invitation to attend the ceremony of consecration of the People's Salvation Cathedral. Unfortunately, for reasons related to the European agenda, I will not be able to take part in the event on Sunday, November 25, 2018," Iohannis says in his letter.
President Iohannis emphasises that the consecration of the cathedral represents, for the Christian Orthodox believers in the country and diaspora, a celebration of a special historical and symbolic charge.
"The participation of Ecumenical Patriarch His Holiness Bartholomew I, along with the hierarchs of the sister Orthodox churches, reveals the deep connection that unites us in the spirit of Christian faith and values that the Church cultivates in society," reads the presidential letter.
He mentions that the edification of the People's Salvation Cathedral was possible through a sustained effort by the Romanian Orthodox Church and believers.
"This place of worship brings us together in one of the most important moments for the Romanian people: the celebration of the Centennial of the Greater Union."
Iohannis extends to Daniel his sincere wishes for health and fruitful service.
President Klaus Iohannis welcomed on Saturday Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome, and Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace.
Also on Friday arrived in Bucharest a delegation of the Greek Orthodox Church, headed by Metropolitan of Patra, Hrisostom. The delegation brought a box bearing the Holy Hand of Saint Apostle Andrew, Protector of Romania. This holy box stayed inside the Patriarchal Cathedral on the Metropolitan Hill until Saturday, at 16:00 hrs when it was moved to be worshiped in the porch of the Chapel of the National Cathedral, until Sunday at 13:00hrs.
The National Cathedral is 95pct erected "to the red bricks", following to have its domes and the Pantocrator tower ready in the near future.
The National Cathedral will be dedicated to the Ascension of the Lord, a day of remembrance of Romania's all-time heroes.The second protector is Saint Apostle Andrew.