President Iohannis at the EU summit in Brussels

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis is in Brussels on 28-29 June to attend the European Council, where he will address the importance of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), progress in the field of military mobility and cyber threats, intensification of EU-NATO cooperation and the importance Romania grants to research and innovation, as key elements for the EU's competitiveness.

EU leaders discuss migration, security and defense issues, as well as economic and financial affairs.

Migration: With the aim of breaking the business model of smugglers, the European Council is expected to agree on further exploring the concept of regional disembarkation platforms, in close cooperation with relevant third countries, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Disembarkation platforms can be the place where economic refugees can be separated from those in need of international protection.

Securing and protecting external borders are EU’s priorities, as well as taxation, innovation and digital technology, areas where decisions will be made.

New multiannual financial framework will also be discussed and a timetable for budget adoption is expected before or after the next European Parliament elections scheduled for 2019.

In this context, European leaders have to consider European Parliament’s decision to reduce the number of MEPs from 751 to 705, as a result of Brexit.

With regard to security and defense, EU Council will discuss EU - NATO cooperation, the state of negotiations on the UK exit of the Union, and also the reform of the economic and monetary union.

Source:RRA.Translated by Miruna Matei