President Iohannis welcomes Swiss counterpart Berset

President Klaus Iohannis welcomed his Swiss counterpart Alain Berset at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace on Thursday. 

The delegation accompanying President Iohannis included presidential advisers Andrei Muraru, Bogdan Aurescu, Leonard Orban, Cosmin Marinescu, presidential spokesperson Madalina Dobrovolschi, as well as state advisers Ligia Deca and Daniela Barsan. 

The two chiefs of state were to hold talks and give a joint news conference at the end of the meeting. 

According to a Presidential Administration release, discussed at the meeting will be ways of developing bilateral relations, issues related to the main items on the European agenda, including the Swiss financial contribution to the EU Cohesion Fund, as well as regional themes. 

"The visit to Romania is part of intensifying the bilateral dialogue and happens ahead of Romania's assuming the presidency of the Council of the European Union for six months in the first half of 2019. Thus, the discussions will also focus on Switzerland's relationship with the European Union." 

Iohannis will unveil the priorities of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU and assure the Swiss side that Romania will continue to support, including from this position, the promotion of an open and constructive mutually beneficial dialogue between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation in all aspects of this relationship. 

Berset's visit that started on Wednesday takes place at the invitation of President Klaus Iohannis.