EU COUNCIL PRESIDENCY OF ROMANIA

Romania will hold the Presidency of the Council of the EU for the first time since it became a member of the EU, from January to June 2019. The Romanian Presidency opens the Trio of Presidencies composed of Finland and Croatia, and it will be the final Presidency acting throughout the current legislative cycle of the European Parliament.

Priorities of Romanian EU Presidency

Prime Minister Viorica Dancila emphasised the importance they are giving to the Council Presidency of EU as stating:  “Democracy, economic growth and the security that Romania enjoys today represent the incontestable outcome of our European road – a choice we are committed to and which cannot be reversed. We are Europe. The future of Europe means our future, and our contribution to a better and safer world.”

The four priorities of Romanian Presidency are as follows:

1. Europe of convergence

• Competitiveness, development gaps, employment and social rights
• Innovation and digitalisation
• Connectivity, climate and sustainability

1. A safer Europe

• Internal security and combating crime and terrorism
• Effective external borders’ management
• Well-functioning Schengen area
• Cyber security

1. Europe as a stronger global actor

• Enlargement of Western Balkans
• EU defence capabilities (PESCO, EDF, CARD)
• Consistency and effectiveness of EU action in Eastern Neighbourhood
• Multilateralism

1. Europe of Common Values

• Democracy, freedom, human rights and respect for human dignity
• Solidarity, equal opportunities, gender equality and social justice
• Combating racism, xenophobia, antisemitism, intolerance and populism

In fact, Romania will have less than 6 months to take action under these priorities. The Romanian Presidency will witness both the EP elections in May and Brexit. On the other hand 2021-2027 period of the EU's long-term budget debates should not be forgotten.

Like every term presidency, Romania has also set an issue that will highlight its presidency: digital transformation. In fact, it is not known that Romania has a good level of technology and it focuses on this field. Romania has the fastest internet service in the whole EU. There is a rapidly developing start-up culture that benefits from EU funds, government and local administrations’ support. It will even host the European Start-up Summit. With its high rates of economic growth (6.7 percent in 2017), and a new generation passionate in the latest technologies, some see Romania as the new Silicon Valley of EU.  Romania seems to use all these evolving and strengthening aspects of the Presidency of the EU to use its own advantage, particularly for the promotion of the country.

It was significant that Viorica Dancila, who is the prime minister of Romania with which Turkey enjoys good relations, stated her support for Turkey’s EU membership during her official visit to Turkey and President Erdoğan implied that Romania’s EU Presidency of EU Council is an opportunity for Turkey. However, when we take a look at Romania’s priorities, it can be seen that they give weight to Western Balkans’ EU membership process, just as their predecessors did.

More detailed information about the Romanian Presidency can be found on the official website, http://www.romania2019.eu/#s-home