Romanian Ministers present EU Presidency priorities in European Parliament

Romanian Ministers have presented, on Wednesday, 23 January, the priorities of Romania’s EU Council Presidency in different specialized committees of the European Parliament.

Members of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) have had an exchange of views with Minister of Justice Tudorel Toader and Minister of Internal Affairs Carmen Dan, who presented the priorities of the Romanian Council Presidency of the European Union in the area of Justice and Home Affairs. Minister Tudorel Toader highlighted the goal of reaching an agreement between the European Parliament and the Council in this parliamentary term on the appointment of the European Chief Prosecutor, as well as the special importance the Romanian EU Council Presidency attaches to legislative proposals on electronic evidence in criminal field and sectoral programs ” Rights and Values ” and ” Justice ” in the proposal for a Regulation on the Multiannual Financial Framework. Romanian Justice Minister expressed conviction in a close collaboration with the European Parliament to complete as many legislative files as possible and to achieve EU’s strategic objectives regarding the area of liberty, security and justice. ”Europe is in the Romanians heart and the Romanian EU Presidency will put the European citizen in the center of its objectives”, Justice Minister said.

Ștefan-Radu Oprea, Minister for business environment, commerce and entrepreneurship, presented the trade priorities of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU, during the January 23 meeting of the Committee on International Trade (INTA) of the European Parliament. Presentation was followed by a debate on the main topics, and INTA members showed interest in the presented priorities. Topical issues on the EU’s agenda were discussed during the debate, such as: World Trade Organization’s modernization, EU – US trade relations, ongoing trade negotiations with third parties, effective implementation of the trade agreements in place, especially with Eastern Partnership countries (DCFTAs), trade related legislative proposals and the future trade relations between EU and UK. Minister Ștefan-Radu Oprea appreciated the interest manifested by INTA members in the Presidency’s trade priorities. Trade will continue to remain a priority on the agenda of the Romania – Finland – Croatia Trio, especially in the following six months. Council of the EU, European Parliament and European Commission will need to work closely together in this context, in order to efficiently tackle the challenges faced by the multilateral trade system and in relation with some third countries.

Alexandru Petrescu, Minister of Communications and Information Society, presented the priorities of the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council on Digital Single Market in the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). In this context, Minister of Communications reaffirmed the commitment of the Romanian EU Presidency to promote the EU interests in the development of the Digital Single Market and underlined the importance of working with Member States, European Commission and European Parliament to advance negotiations on the legislative files in place, to strengthen the Digital Single Market. Under the motto “A digital Europe without frontiers and undergoing transformation”, Minister Petrescu reiterated Romania’s priorities in the digital domain, cyber security, innovation, digital competences and increasing the number of women in the field of information technology and presented the major events which will be organized during the six months of the mandate.“I presented today, in the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), the ambitious program of Romanian EU Presidency on Single Digital Market. I assure you that ensuring a high level of digitization and competitiveness of the EU is an essential priority of the Romanian EU Presidency and as an honest broker, our intention is to support and advance the European project on the development of the Digital Single Market. We want Europe to become a global leader on all digital scales with positive impact on economic growth: 5G network development, artificial intelligence, cyber security, supercomputers, research and innovation and large data volumes”, said Alexandru Petrescu. On 22nd of January, Romania achieved its first success in the Single Digital Market area through the interim political agreement reached on the proposal for a directive on the re-use of public sector information. In particular, this legislation will contribute to European economic growth and both European citizens and SMEs will benefit by reducing market entry barriers, by reducing taxes on the re-use of public sector information, increasing data availability and introducing new types of public data. “By increasing the use, development and diffusion of advanced technologies, by supporting entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity, we will accelerate Europe’s development capacity in the interest of the economy and European citizens”, said Alexandru Petrescu.

Minister of Labor and Social Justice, Marius Budăi, presented to the members of FEMM (Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality) and EMPL (Committee on Employment and Social Affairs) the priorities of the Romanian EU Council Presidency in the area of competence. Among Romania’s priorities in the social affairs field, there are completing negotiations with the European Parliament on the Directive on work-life balance for parents and careers, and on the non legislative segment promoting the Council Conclusions on elimination of remuneration differences between women and men, stated Marius Budăi in front of the FEMM Committee. Minister Budăi stated that Romania aims to finalize the negotiations with the European Parliament on the Regulation on the future European Labor Authority (ELA) and also to advance negotiations with the European Parliament on coordination of social security systems. “In the related legislative segment we also envisage finalizing negotiations on the normative framework on transparent and predictable working conditions, with direct effects on both worker and productivity. Here we are discussing about a file in which the positions of the co legislators were not necessarily convergent but the common aim is to have a result that provides adequate protection to workers and respect the practices in the Member States. We also intend to finalize negotiations on revision of Directive on protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work (IIIrd batch). We are discussing about a file that allows us to confirm once again the inclination toward the well being of the citizens, and the constructive atmosphere in which discussions were held so far gives me confidence that we will adopt this legislative act in the current mandate of the Parliament. We will also promote Council Conclusions on ensuring safety and health at work in the context of new forms of work”, Minister Marius Budăi also stated. Minister of Labor and Social Justice participated, in the European Parliament, at a working lunch organized by the Women Entrepreneur Platform, where topics such as European policies in support of business women were discussed, as well as the exchange of good practices.

Minister of European Funds, Rovana Plumb presented in the REGI Committee the priorities of the Romanian EU Council Presidency from the perspective of the Cohesion Policy. “Cohesion, single market and competitiveness of the EU economy are key priorities for the Romanian EU Presidency”, Minister Plumb said. Romanian EU Presidency has ambitious but realistic goals in its mandate, highlighting the challenges related to Brexit, Multiannual Financial Framework and European Elections. “Even if our mandate takes place during a challenging period, the Romanian EU Presidency will focus on achieving tangible results for people living in the Member States, thus contributing to a more democratic and closer Union with its citizens. We will be an impartial mediator and will ensure consensus in order to advance the European Agenda. EU remains a strong global economic player and its strength is determined by the capacity of EU national economies to be convergent. Therefore, cohesion, single market and competitiveness of the EU economy are the key priorities of our EU Presidency”. Ms. Plumb stated in the European Parliament that the Romanian EU Presidency will continue to examine the five Regulations that are part of the Cohesion Package, as follows:

• Common Provisions Regulation;

• European Regional Development Fund Regulation;

• Cohesion Fund Regulation;

• European Social Fund Regulation;

• European Territorial Cooperation /INTERREG Regulation.

“Talks with our European partners in the Member States will lead to substantial progress in negotiations at Council level, in order to prepare the mandate for the future trilogue”. EU policies contribute to reducing economic, social and territorial disparities and Cohesion Policy remains the key factor for investment at EU level, Minister for European Funds added.

Source:RRA,Romania2019.eu