Aspen Institute's Geoana: 'Romania must make sure influence spheres' policy never resurfaces'

The Aspen Romania Institute president says we practically talk about a multi-speed Europe, from the point of view of the integration in various initiatives of the Union. Several centres and outskirts are currently in the EU, depending on the competitive advantages of the various regions, hence the numerous visions regarding the future of Europe, that most of the time are different and opposed. Inside and outside the euro zone the centrifugal and the regional alliances are striking the oil, as well as the populist and the anti-system rhetoric. At regional level, the security context is marked by Russia's re-emergence that is seeking for its hegemony in the Black Sea, as a gate to the Middle East and the Mediterranean Sea, and the return to the world power status. Romania must make sure that a resuming of a influence spheres' policy wouldn't be possible and that the NATO will continue to strengthen its Eastern flank, Mircea Geoana pointed out. 

Asked to comment upon how the current tension on the international scene could affect the half-year presidency of Romania to the EU Council, as of 1 January 2019, Mircea Geoana said that Romania will have a difficult task within the said Presidency, considering the above-mentioned trends and the lack of consensus in the EU on numerous essential topics, from migration to the digital policies or the next multiannual financial framework. 

Mircea Geoana reiterated that it is paramount for Romania to be connected to Europe's commercial roads. Moreover, says he, our country "has to focus on carrying out the objectives identified a few years ago within the Romania Gateway strategic project, developed by the Aspen Institute in partnership with Romania's government." 
"Today, more than ever the public sector and the private environment must intensify cooperation to turn Romania into an economic, commercial, logistic, industrial, energy and IT hub," Mircea Geoana stressed.

AGERPRES