Iohanis: No room for setback in international comunity, EU must play much more important role

AGERPRES special correspondent Madalina Cerban reports: President Klaus Iohannis affirmed on Monday, upon meeting his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella that there is no place for setback in the international community, specifying that the European Union must play a much more important role than at present.

"A very important topic for us and that I discussed with Mr. President Mattarella was the Presidency of the Council of the European Union Romania is to take over in the first half of 2019 and an essential part of this Presidency - beside the multiple complicated files, such as Brexit and the Multiannual Financial Framework - (...) will be a reflection on the Union's future," Iohannis declared during joint press statement with Sergio Mattarella, at Quirinale.

Iohannis specified that the Summit in Sibiu on 9 May 2019 is exclusively dedicated to the future of the Union.

"We wish until then, together with the 27 member states - as this is how many we will be when the Summit takes place - to find an approach that not only sketches a strategy for the future for the Union, but also opens up for us a door to a new optimism, as we will find ourselves then right after Brexit and I believe the Union needs not only technical solutions, but also solutions that make the Europeans feel optimistic again and confident in the European project," Iohannis said.

According to the president, the key words for Romania's Presidency of the EU Council are "unity and cohesion."

"These are the things we need in order to accomplish all the other projects that we set for ourselves - European security, internal security, the security of the outer borders, solving the issues generated by the important migration flow. (...) Matters that affect the ones and the others are obviously matters related to security in a broader sense," Iohannis showed.

He specified having discussed with his Italian counterpart about collaboration within NATO as well.

"I have underscored the very good collaboration within NATO too, and as regards the general approach (...) we are living in a globalised world. There is no room for local or isolationist approaches. There is no room for setback in the international community and in this sense, I have highlighted that not only unity and cohesion are needed within the Union, but a more important role of the Union in the international politics, in issues related to the international community and (...) president Mattarella had the same (...) type of approach. We mustn't abandon in any way multilateralism in international relations and here the Union must play a far, far more important role than it does know," Iohannis said.

In his opinion, politicians in Romania and Italy can contribute to the betterment of the international political environment.

"These special relations that Romania has with Italy, people in Romania with the ones in Italy, the politicians in the two countries can decisively contribute, we both think, to the betterment of the international political environment and for all these things, Mr president, I thank you for welcoming me so nicely (...). In the name of all the Romanians, I thank you for the friendship you carry for us," Iohannis further conveyed to Mattarella.