President Klaus Iohannis, on Wednesday and Thursday, will be attending the European Union - Western Balkans Summit and the European Council meeting, which will take place in Brussels, Belgium.

The EU-Western Balkans Summit, scheduled for Wednesday, will focus on evaluating the implementation of the Growth Plan for this region and the efforts for regional integration, in the context of EU enlargement, which represents the main geopolitical investment that the EU can make in its neighborhood, according to the Presidential Administration.

At the Summit, Klaus Iohannis will express "Romania's commitment to the European perspective of the region, respecting the principles of merit-based approach and strict conditionalities, as well as the commitment of regional partners to European values, as an expression of strategic orientation, especially in the context of Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine," the quoted source points out.

The agenda of the European Council meeting, which will take place on Thursday, includes topics such as: Ukraine, migration, the situation in the Middle East, EU civil and military preparedness, crisis response, the EU's role in the world, EU enlargement, as well as issues related to freedom, security, and justice.

The leaders' discussion on Ukraine aims to assess the on-the-ground situation and the most suitable ways to meet the commitments of support for the Ukrainian people and to continue efforts to repel the Russian invasion and ensure the supremacy of international law. This meeting will also be a good opportunity to express a unified European message of support for Ukraine and for the implementation of a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace.

During the discussion, the President of Romania will emphasise the need to continue a strategic, multidimensional, and coherent approach to supporting Ukraine, in close coordination with international partners who share the same set of values.

Regarding the EU role in the world, a strategic and comprehensive discussion will take place on the leaders' level about the EU's global engagement and priorities in a multipolar context marked by geopolitical tensions.

The migration topic will be addressed from the perspective of assessing the progress made in implementing EU legislation on this matter, with a focus on the external dimension of migration, preventing and combating illegal migration, and fighting against the instrumentalisation and trafficking of migrants.

Regarding developments in the Middle East, leaders will analyse the situation on the ground, including ways in which the EU can contribute to de-escalating the conflict. The situation in Syria will also be discussed.

On the sidelines of the meetings in Brussels, Klaus Iohannis will have a meeting with European Council President Antonio Costa. AGERPRES (RO - author: Oana Ghita, editor: Florin Marin; EN - editor: Adina Panaitescu)