Romania and Ireland support the project to strengthen the European design, focusing on a European Union that is closer to its citizens, Romania's Minister-delegate for European Affairs Victor Negrescu said at a meeting in Dublin on Wednesday with Helen McEntee, state minister for European affairs with Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

According to a press statement released by the Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE), a series of topics of common interest was addressed in relation to the current European agenda, such as the future of the European Union, the Multiannual Financial Framework post-2020, Brexit, the Economic and Monetary Union, social issues, the Digital Single Market, research and innovation, and the Western Balkans and the EU's enlargement policy.

"Romania and Ireland support the project to strengthen the European design, focusing on a European Union that is closer to its citizens and that continues to operate based on its fundamental values and principles. Given that Ireland is one of the member states that has consistently supported Romanian efforts at European level, we want to deepen our co-operation in the area of European affairs, so that the constructive attitude of our countries will bring positive results for the European Union, its member states and citizens," Negrescu is quoted as having said during the discussions with the Irish official.

Their dialogue also focused on the experience of Ireland with holding the presidency of the Council of the European Union, which it has done seven times so far, as well as the opportunities for co-operation on this dimension.

Negrescu also presented the current development in the preparations for Romania's take-over of the six-month rotating presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2019, as well as the four thematic pillars that will form the basis of the agenda for "Europe convergence: growth, cohesion, competitiveness, connectivity," "Safe Europe," "Europe as a global player" and "Europe of common values."

"For its tenure, Romania aims to ensure an effective presidency by taking up the role of an impartial mediator in carrying out the duties related to presiding over the council and by advancing the European agenda. Like Ireland, Romania has become a model in the last years in terms of economic dynamism, and by facilitating negotiations over the first pillar files Romania will be able to help deepen the European design from the point in terms of the overall common goal of generating growth and development across the European Union. Romania also supports a more ambitious programme at European level to improve connectivity, as part of the strategy for finalising a competitive digital single market," said Negrescu.

According to MAE, during his visit, Negrescu delivered a lecture at the Institute for European and International Affairs in Dublin on the Romanian presidency of the Council of the European Union's vision for a stronger and more cohesive European Union and met representatives of the local Romanian community.

"The visit was part of the minister-delegate's actions to strengthen dialogue and co-operation on European affairs with the other European partners for an effective promotion of common interests at European Union level," according to MAE. AGERPRES (RO - author: Daniel Florea, editor: Florin Marin; EN - author: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu, editor: Adina Panaitescu)