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Klaus Iohannis, Charles Michel discuss future EU budget, climate change, Brexit deal
President Klaus Iohannis discussed, on Wednesday, with the future President of the European Council, Charles Michel, about the Single Market, EU security, the need for a strong foreign policy, climate change, policies in the realm of global warming, and the multiannual budget of the Union.
"We discussed about money too, about the financial exercise that will take the next seven years. We all feel the need to finalize the project in the most optimistic version, but also a realistic one. We hope to reach good conclusions somewhere at the beginning of 2020. This topic will be on the agenda of the Council in December and - we hope and certainly others do too - to have some matters clarified and to note a significant progress," said Iohannis after the meeting with the future President of the European Council.
He showed that he discussed with the future President of the European Council about the need to maintain financing for regional development and to maintain an important sum of money for common agricultural policies.
"We desire a policy in the realm of climate that would solve the issue. We want to be a continent that shows how global warming can be fought, but at the same time we want to guarantee the development of our economies. We do not want a pro-climate policy that strangles the economies of countries that are lesser developed and here we understood each other very well. Mr. President Michel desires to approach matters related to the policy in the realm of fighting global warming as part of the December Council and certainly it will be the occasion for us all to discuss strategic approaches. For example, about an ambition that most of the member-states have, to reach the so-called climate neutrality in 2050," Iohannis showed.
Charles Michel showed that at the Council in December there will be talks about the multiannual budget of the EU, showing that it is not a "bureaucratic" decision, but a "technical, political" one.
Certainly it will be necessary to allot sufficient time in the coming months, so that we deepen inter-institutional dialogue because the European budget is the mirror of our common priorities at the political level. That is why we are trying to find a correct balance between increased convergence, cohesion, agriculture and all these matters that we need to ensure - climate change, technology -, all these are important matters, with concrete effects in the day to day life of European citizens of various member states of the European Union, he emphasized.
The European official expressed his desire that the December European Council will reach an agreement regarding climate change.
They also referred to a Brexit deal and a no-deal Brexit. "We consider that a Brexit deal is by far the best option and we have seen in the last few months a tendency to accept this approach on behalf of the other side, of the UK, as well, but elections are taking place there on December 12 - we will have the European Council on December 12-13 - probably on the first evening of the Council we will have the first provisional results and we will figure out how things will evolve. I, personally, believe that political wisdom will prevail and Brexit will occur at the end of January with an agreement. This is the hope of the other colleagues in the EU27, those of us who remain. In this situation with a deal, the agreement, which is negotiated with the British Government, the rights of Romanians are very well protected," said President Iohannis, after meeting with the future president of the European Council, Charles Michel.
According to the head of state, in the case of an agreement, no Romanian should be anxious about the status he/she will have after Brexit.
"The rights to work, to social insurance, pension and so on are all very well negotiated. In the less likely case, but which cannot be excluded, of a no-deal Brexit, we will be in a position to negotiate these rights in a bilateral framework. We are well prepared for this situation, as well," said Iohannis.
He added that he has had in-depth and detailed discussions with British Prime Ministers Theresa May and Boris Johnson.
"We have found that there is a mutual desire to protect the rights of citizens bilaterally and, in this regard, I am confident that we will reach a very fast agreement that will protect the Romanians in the UK very well. In both situations, the Romanians will be protected. There will be bilateral agreements or the large agreement on Brexit and I see no cause for concern. I prefer by far a Brexit with an agreement, but we, Romania, are well prepared for the other option, too," President Iohannis maintained.
In his turn, Charles Michel said that protecting the rights of European citizens after Brexit is a priority.
I am confident that it will be possible and it is essential to reach an agreement to guarantee the various rights for European citizens and also to ensure the rights of the United Kingdom's citizens in the rest of the European countries, added the future President of the European Council.