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Constructive discussions between Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and EC President Ursula von der Leyen

by AI | 22.Aug 2024 | Europe in brief AI

The priorities of the future European Commission, the status of the implementation of the PNRR, and the nomination of the European Commissioner from Romania, among the topics discussed by the Romanian Prime Minister with the President of the European Commission, in Brussels.

Romania, EC, Ursula von der Leyen, Marcel Ciolacu, NRRP, European Commissioner, Schengen Marcel Ciolacu/ facebook.com

Bucharest – The Prime Minister of Romania, Marcel Ciolacu, was on a working visit to Brussels on Thursday, where he met with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. The discussions, deemed “extremely constructive,” focused, among other things, on the renegotiation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), with a request for a 10% reduction in the loan component, as well as the future agreement with the Commission regarding the reduction of the budget deficit, the Prime Minister informed.

The head of the Executive specified that, based on the discussions held, Romania will propose to the European Commission a 7-year agreement on reducing the budget deficit. He explained that the deficit needs to be reduced in the long term because the country must take advantage of European funds to develop the economy and raise the standard of living of the population.

Another topic addressed was Romania’s accession to Schengen with land borders, with the Prime Minister emphasizing that Ursula von der Leyen is “the biggest” supporter of our country’s full entry into the free movement area. Ciolacu specified that the discussion with the EC head on the Schengen topic did not include Bulgaria. “There we are talking about strategies, I did not talk to the President about Bulgaria, I do not have assignments. If Bulgaria requests me, I will talk,” the Prime Minister explained, when asked on this topic.

At the same time, he announced that he proposed Victor Negrescu for the position of European Commissioner from Romania in Brussels and that the proposal from the Romanian Government would be submitted by Monday at the latest, after discussions in the country with the coalition partner and the head of state, who represents the country in the European Council. The head of government said he wants a portfolio as relevant as possible, especially in the field of the economy, given that Romania is the sixth-largest country in the European Union.

Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu made the statements at a press conference in Brussels, at the headquarters of Romania’s Permanent Representation to the EU, at the end of the meeting with the head of the European Commission. (22.08.2024)