the romanian presidency of the council of the …€¦ · 1 january - 30 june 2019 the romanian...

Cohesion, a common European value

THE ROMANIAN PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

1 January - 30 June 2019 The Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Events and Meetings in Romania

RO PRES results in figures ca. 2500 Events and Meetings

300 Events

18Informal

Ministerial Meetings

166Conferences and Expert Meetings

229Events in Bucharest

71Events

throughout Romania

2.156 Media

Representatives

33.991Delegates

90 Finalised legislative

files

100Signed

legislative files

84Council

Conclusions

22 Progress reports

38Files

advanced in the Council

82 Council

Decisions

13Adopted Council

Declarations, Resolutions,

Recommendations

Main results


Events and external meetings

397Events and

External Meetings

75 Other Events in Brussels

72External Meetings organised

during RO PRES

250Events and Meetings

organised by Diplomatic Missions

Meetings in Brussels, Strasbourg and Luxembourg

1463Working

Group Meetings

190Trialogue Meetings

91Meetings of

Coreper (I, II, Art. 50)Coreper I: 32, Coreper II: 41,

Coreper II Art. 50: 18

50 Council

Meetings

7European

Council Meetings


We will defend one EuropeWe will stay united, through thick and thinWe will always look for joint solutionsWe will continue to protect our way of life, democracy and the rule of lawWe will deliver where it matters most

Summit-ul de la Sibiu

We will always uphold the principle of fairnessWe will give ourselves the means to match our ambitionsWe will safeguard the future for the next generations of EuropeansWe will protect our citizensEurope will be a responsible global leader.

The Sibiu Declaration – 10 key commitments for the future of the Union

EUROPE OF CONVERGENCE

SECTORAL MULTIANNUAL FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK FILES EUROPEAN DEFENCE FUND MakingEuropeandefencemorecompetitiveandinnovative ContributingtotheEU’sstrategicautonomy CONNECTING EUROPE FACILITY Fundingkeyprojectsintheareasoftransport,digitalandenergy Emphasisingsynergybetweenthesectorsandaimstomainstreamclimateaction

ECONOMY AND FINANCE BANKING UNION Fewerrisksandbetterbanksupervision Saferlendingtoconsumersandbusinesses SUPERVISION AND REQUIREMENTS FOR INVESTMENT FUNDS Linkingtherulesapplicabletoinvestmentfirmstotheirrisklevel EUROPEAN SYSTEM OF FINANCIAL SUPERVISION (ESFS) REVIEW Regulated,strongandstableEUfinancialmarkets Strengthenedfightagainstmoneylaundering

EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS EUROPEAN LABOUR AUTHORITY Accesstoinformationregardingrightsandobligationsformobileworkers SupportcooperationbetweenMemberStatesintacklingundeclaredwork TRANSPARENT AND PREDICTABLE WORKING CONDITIONS Increasedsecurityandpredictabilityofemploymentrelationships Minimumrightsforworkers

ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION LOWER CO2 EMISSIONS FROM TRUCKS Makingtransportcleaner Combatingclimatechange

Legislative results obtained on the pillars of the RO PRES Programme

63 files

DIGITAL SINGLE MARKET COPYRIGHT Moreopportunitiesforcontentcreators Exceptionsandlicences

TRANSPORT, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND ENERGY EU GAS MARKET ExtendingEUrulestopipelinesinvolvingthirdcountries Moreconsistencyandtransparencyforinvestorsandconsumers ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE Makingroadssafer Reducingthenumberofroadfatalities

AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES GENERAL FOOD LAW Moretransparentscientificstudiesonfoodsafety Greatertrustbetweenconsumers,industryandinstitutions

A SAFER EUROPE

JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS EUROPEAN BORDER AND COAST GUARD Strongerexternalborderprotection Moreefficientmanagementofmigration INFORMATION SHARING BETWEEN EU DATABASES Moreefficientbordercontrols FasterexchangeofinformationbetweenMemberStates Combattingillegalmigration SECURITY OF ID CARDS Fightingdocumentfraudandidentitytheft Combattingterrorismandorganisedcrime VISA CODE Betterconditionsforlegitimatetravellers Bettercooperationforthereadmissionofirregularmigrants

8 files

The Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

RO PRES 2019 delivered for protecting the rights and wellbeing of citizens

A cohesive and strong Europe guarantees equal opportunities for all its citizens, ensures their safety, social protection and inclusion and a fair and non-discriminatory access to all the benefits of the Single Market. In addition, it is important to prevent hazards and promote safer and healthier working conditions with the aim to improve living standards for all citizens.

ROPRESactedtowardsensuringtheprotectionof citizens’ social rights and employment,attaching major importance to social files and being firmly committed to complexnegotiations.ThroughkeyachievementsonnewEU laws on the social area, such aswork-life balance, transparent and predictable working conditions, the European Labour Authority and reducing exposure to carcinogens at work,weensuredthatallcitizensbenefitfromfairness and social justice: the right to qualityjobs, healthcare, lifelong learning and genderequality.

Through the Work-Life Balance Directive, the participation of women on the labourmarket and the equal sharing of careresponsibilities between women and menare encouraged. The current legislation onparental leave, paid paternity leave andflexible working arrangements for parentsandcarersissignificantlyimproved.

A TRIO Declaration on gender equalitywassignedby theROPRESandthesucceedingFinnishandCroatianPresidenciesoftheEUCouncilon15March2019.TheDeclarationhighlightstheneedforincludingthegenderperspective inallEUpolicies.ROPRESalsoorganizedseveraleventscoveringthetopicofgenderequality.

TheEuropean Labour Authority (ELA)willsupport Member States in implementingEU legislation in the areas of cross-borderlabour mobility. ELA will also facilitate theaccessofmobileworkerstoinformationontheirrightsandobligationsandwillprovidesupportintacklingundeclaredwork.

The Directive on transparent and predictable working conditions respondsto labour market challenges triggered bydemographic developments, digitalisationand new forms of employment. The newframework provides new minimum rightsfor workers, as well as new rules on thesubstanceandforminwhichinformationisprovided to workers on their employmentrelationshipandworkingconditions.

RO PRES also contributed to reducing the exposure of workers to five carcinogenic chemical agents,thusprotectingmillionsofcitizens andpreventing thousandsof casesofill-healthattheworkplace.

EU citizens demanded via the ‘Right2Water’ initiative thattapwateracrosstheEUbesafeto drink. RO PRES successfully finalised thenegotiations on theDrinking Water Directive thatincludesnewrulesonthequalitystandardsofdrinkingwaterandimprovesaccesstowater.

A big step was also taken towards ensuringtransparency and sustainability of EU riskassessment in the food chain, through theupdate of theGeneral Food Law Regulation. This will foster the access to scientific informationon the fundamental issueof foodsafety and human health for all Europeancitizens.

Consumer protection is a key responsibilityareafortheEUinrelationtoEuropeancitizens.ROPREShascontributedtothemodernisation and reinforcement of the EU legislationinthisfield.

A EUROPE OF COMMON VALUES

EU INSTITUTIONS AND DEMOCRATIC CHANGE EUROPEAN ELECTIONS: PROTECTION OF PERSONAL DATA SecuringfreeandfairEuropeanelections SanctionsforexportingdatabreacheswhentryingtoinfluencetheoutcomeofEPelections WHISTLEBLOWERS Fightingcorruptionorillegalityintheworkplace Greaterprotectionforindividualswhoexposeirregularities

GENDER EQUALITY BETTER WORK-LIFE BALANCE Paidpaternityleave Flexibleworkingarrangementsforparentsandcarers

BREXIT

BREXIT ERASMUS+ LEARNING MOBILITY PROGRAMME Contingencymeasurestoavoidprogrammedisruption Upto12monthstocompletetheongoingactivities ROAD AND RAIL CONNECTIVITY Avoidingtransportdisruptions

15 files

4 files

Legislative results obtained on the pillars of the RO PRES Programme


Inordertoreduceidentityfraud,therebymakingitharderforterroristsandcriminalstoact,whilefacilitatingfreemovementofgenuinetravellers,theEUisintroducingtighter security of ID cards of EU citizens and of residence documents issued to EU citizens and their non-EU family members. The proposed rules include strongdataprotectionsafeguards.

Another importantachievementofROPRES inthefieldofinternalsecurityisthestrengtheningofEU lawenforcementauthorities’ capacity tofightterrorismandseriouscrime,byimproving their access to financial information for the prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of certain criminal offences.

ChangestotheEU visa codewerealsoadopted,to improve conditions for legitimate travellersandtoofferthemmoretoolstorespondtothechallengesposedbyillegalmigration.

Aspartofthefight against terrorism, RO PRES paid particular attention to the prevention and countering of radicalisation, in particular radicalisation in prison. In this sense, a setofgood practices was settled in addressing thischallenge and in dealing with terrorist andviolentextremistoffendersafterrelease.

In our common efforts of countering the newemergent threats, significant progress wasachieved during RO PRES regarding efforts tocounter hybrid threats.GiventheimportanceofamorecoordinatedapproachbetweenMemberStates, as well as between EU institutions, ROPREShadtheinitiativetocreateaguideofbestpracticesasawayofimprovingandconsolidatingthecommonunderstandingonhybridthreats.

ThankstoROPRES,theCounciloftheEUsetupaframeworkthatwouldallowfor the first time the EU to impose sanctions on individuals or entities responsible for cyber-attacks.

RO PRES acted to consolidate, within theframework of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, the intervention capacities incaseofmajor disasterswith lowprobability ofoccurrence,butwithacatastrophicimpact.Thismeans better collective training at Union levelbysupplementingwithmeansofinterventiontocomplementMemberStates’effortsinsituationssuchasfires, flood or other eventsthatexceedthemanagementabilitiesoftheaffectedstate.

RO PRES 2019 delivered for securing free and fair elections for a more democratic Europe

Between 23-26 May, European citizens voted for the election of their representatives in the European Parliament.

Mass disinformation campaigns and cyber-related activities, including attacks on electoral infrastructure, are increasingly aimed at discrediting and undermining our electoral processes and democracies. EU institutions and Member States have important, complementary roles in protecting democratic processes. This requires concerted efforts by the EU and the Member States with the support of civil society, the IT industry and online platforms. The response must be comprehensive, with an emphasis on the internal and external dimensions of the threats.

Coordinating coherent and sustained actions to protect EU’s free and democratic electionswasapriorityforROPRES.Combatingdisinformationand increasing the EU’s ability to deter andrespondtocyberattacksarealsoconsideredkeytoensuringafairelectoralprocess.

The new ruleswill consolidate the consumers’rightsifharmedbyunfaircommercialpractices.At the same time, it will ensure enhancedtransparencyinonlinetransactionsandahigherprotection in respect to ‘free’ digital services,such as cloud storage, socialmedia and emailaccounts.Thenewruleswillalsoclarifythewayin which Member States should address theissue ofmisleadingmarketing of ‘dual quality’products.

ROPRESalsosuccessfully tackledkeyfiles thatensurethetransport safety of the EU citizens. New EU norms will make roads safer and strengthen road infrastructure management, makingitmandatorytotakesystematicaccountof pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerableroad users. RO PRES has also successfullynegotiated the introduction of new enhanced safety standards for car manufacturers,whichwillhaveaseffectsavinglivesandreducingroadfatalitiesorseriousinjuries.

RO PRES 2019 delivered for a safer Europe

Given the risks and threats faced by the Union in recent years, an increased safety for citizens is a core issue of the needs and expectation for all.

Tracking the implementation of the Internal Security Strategy, in a coherent and unitary manner, and stimulating the implementation of the new tools to provide additional security leading to a proper functioning of the area of free movement, are necessary actions to strengthen a Union based on freedom and security.

The mandate of the European Border and Coast Guardwasbroadenedinordertosupport

MemberStates’activitiesonborderprotection,returnandcooperationwiththirdcountries.

The new rules incorporate the EuropeanBorder Surveillance System (EUROSUR)into the Frontex framework, to improve itsfunctioning.

Astandingcorpswillbesetwithupto10.000operationalstaffby2027.

Frontexwillprovidetechnicalandoperationalsupportinreturnoperations.

Cooperation with third countries will bestrengthened by giving the agency widerscopeforactionandnotlimitingitsoptionsforcooperationwithneighbouringcountries.

The comprehensive approach to migration during RO PRES also manifested through thestrengtheningofcooperation and coordination between liaison officers. These new ruleswill allowus tomake themostof theworkofthe liaison officers on the ground, includingon returns or fighting migrant smuggling. Wealsoworkedtomakereturnsmoreeffectivebyagreeing on a partial general approach on theReturn Directive (recast).

RO PRES tackled the issue of ‘’temporary arrangements’’ in the context of migrationmanagement, and presented a report on aseries of non-binding elements on temporaryarrangementsfordisembarkation.

Taking into account that criminality knows noborders, the EU is introducing new rules oninteroperability between EU information systems in the area of justice and home affairs.

Easierinformationsharingwillimprovesecurity,will allow formoreefficient checks at externalborders and will contribute to preventing andcombatingillegalmigration.


The Common Understanding reached byRO PRES on the future Digital Europe programme will bring substantial benefitsto all EU citizens and companies byboosting investments in crucial areas forcompetitiveness and innovation suchas artificial intelligence, cybersecurity,advanceddigital skills andensuringawideuse of digital technologies across theeconomy and society. Digital Europe willhelpEuropeanbusinessesbenefitfromthevastopportunitiesofdigitaltransformation,scaleupandgainacompetitiveedge,whilealso contributing to bridging the digitaldivide.

RO PRES also brought a significantcontribution to increasing the availability and the reuse of publicly funded data. The new framework extends the scopeof the rules on the reuse of public sectorinformation to include public undertakingsinthetransportandutilitiessectors.

The legal framework on copyright wasupdatedtounlocktheopportunitiesofthedigitalenvironment,forthecreatorswhoserightsmustbefullyrespected,aswellasforthe European citizens, who should benefitfromtheopportunitiesoftheDigitalSingleMarket.

RO PRES also contributed to thedevelopment of high-performing,sustainable and efficiently interconnectedtrans-European networks in the field oftransport, digital and energy through theConnecting Europe Facility. The futureprogramme will continue to fund keyinfrastructure projects in the areas oftransport, digital and energy, emphasisingsynergiesbetweenthesesectorsinordertoenhancetheeffectivenessofEUactionandoptimiseimplementationcosts.

Inthefieldofresearch,ROPREShelpedshapethe future Horizon Europe Programme. Theprogrammetacklessocietalchallengesinareassuch as health, security, digital and enablingtechnologies, climate, energy, mobility andnaturalresources.Italsoscalesupbreakthroughand disruptive innovation, supports excellentbasicscience,strengthenstheUnion’sscientificleadershipanddevelopshigh-qualityknowledgeandskills.

The EU space policy programme will ensurehigh-quality, up-to-date space-related dataand services, enhanced security and strategicautonomyoftheEU.Theuseofsuchdataandserviceswillhelpfostergreatersocio-economicbenefits, as well as help meet key societalchallenges like climate change, sustainableconsumption of natural resources, safety andsecurity.

RO PRES 2019 delivered for enhancing the Single Market and boosting sustainable competitiveness of Europe’s economy

The Single Market has a decisive contribution to enhancing European Union competitiveness through facilitating free movement of goods, services, persons and capital. RO PRES granted high importance on enhancing a well-functioning Single Market to the benefit of EU citizens, companies and economies. These measures will boost Europe’s competitiveness and generate growth and jobs.

AtthebeginningofROPRES,theRegulation on the Financing of European political parties and foundationswasadopted.InFebruary2019,the Council adopted Conclusions on ensuring free and fair European elections,identifyingactionstobetakenandwhichwereimplemented:

holding regular meetings of the European election cooperation network in whichMember States share expertise and goodpracticeswhilejointlyidentifyingthreats;

setting up and launching the Rapid Alert System where national contact points inMemberStatesshareinformationrapidlyondisinformationcampaigns;

enhancing strategic communication dedicatedtoEuropeanvaluesandpolicies;

strengthening the European media ecosystem, by facilitating networks ofindependent fact-checkers;

promoting media and digital literacy, with awareness-raising activities to protectthe integrity of the electoral process, inpartnershipwiththeprivatesectorandcivilsociety;

assessing cyber threats in the electoralcontextandthemeasurestoaddressthem,sotopreservethe integrityoftheelectoralsystem;

calling on social media platforms to investinresourcesfordealinginaresponsibleandaccountable manner with election-relatedonlineactivities;

cooperating with relevant international actors.

Multiple events were organized, both in Bucharest and Brussels, with theparticipationofrepresentativesofgovernments,civilsociety

and online platforms, to raise awarenessregarding the phenomenon of disinformationand to exchange ideas on how to bettercooperateintacklingthesechallenges.

RO PRES prepared, in cooperation withthe European Commission and the HighRepresentative, a report on countering disinformation and the lesson learnt from the European elections, in order to inform the leaders on the way forward in enhancingresilience and countering hybrid threats,includingdisinformation.

RO PRES 2019 delivered for digitisation and innovation in Europe

Digitisation, innovation, connectivity and research contribute to job creation, help increase companies’ competitiveness on global markets, improve quality of life, ensure social inclusion and generate sustainable economic growth. This can be achieved by enhancing investments in infrastructure and skills, as well as by creating conditions that allow Member States, businesses and citizens to innovate and reap the benefits of digitalisation. The EU also has to create the conditions for businesses operating in the EU to grasp the opportunities of digital technologies.

RO PRES made significant progress towards setting-up a true EU Digital Single Market.

The new provisions regarding commercial practices between platforms and businesses (P2B)provideamoretransparent,fairandpredictableonlineenvironmentforbusinesses.


RO PRES 2019 delivered for a stronger Economic and Monetary Union

The economic and monetary architecture of the Union is now stronger, as undeniable proof of cohesive action at European level, and the additional measures adopted contribute to achieving this objective.

Consolidating EU’s economic growth andcompetitiveness through measures aimed atstrengthening the Economic and Monetary UnionwasapriorityoftheROPRESmandate.

Negotiationswereconcludedforaconsiderablenumberoflegislativefilesaimedatstrengthening the Banking Union and the Capital Markets Union.

An important achievement of RO PRES is the revision of the European System of Financial Supervision (ESFS Review), which plays anessential role in the efficient management ofEuropeanfinances.Thus,theEuropeanBankingAuthority will have the necessary tools tomanagepossibleshocksandtocombatmoneylaunderingandterroristfinancing.

Also,aftermorethantwoyearsofnegotiations,the EUwill have in placea more robust legal framework to regulate and supervise banks, through the implementation of revised risk-reduction measures. In concrete terms, thesemeasures will ensure that the banking sectorholdsenoughcapitaltolendsafely,guaranteeing,atthesametime,theprotectionoftaxpayers.

A new set of harmonized rules regarding thedevelopment of secondary markets for non-performing loans (NPLs)wasagreedon,whichwill allow banks to manage and sell non-performingloans.Reducingandpreventingtheaccumulationofbadloansinthebankingsectoris essential for ensuring the stability of thefinancialsystem.

Ageing populations represent a challengethat requires innovative solutions at EU level.Legislation on the Pan-European Pension Product (PEPP) provides more options forcitizens, boosting the private pension marketandencouragingcross-borderpensionmobilityacrossallprofessionalsectors.

AsaresultoftheeffortsofROPRES,simplifiedruleswillbeappliedatthelevelofEUinstitutionsinrelationtofinancial derivatives.Theseruleswill increase transparency, reducing systemicrisks, in line with measures taken at EU levelafterthefinancialcrisis.

Cross-border distribution of funds will allowbusinesseseasierandquickeraccesstofundingsourcesacrossEurope.

Decisions were also taken on the introductionof a harmonized legal framework related tocovered bonds,aneffectivesourceoffinancingfortheeconomy.

RO PRES 2019 delivered for cohesion policy

Cohesion policy is of particular relevance in the context of the general objective of promoting the principle of cohesion in all its dimensions.

RO PRES set ambitious targets for advancingnegotiations on the 2021-2027 cohesionpackage, contributing to the creation of aninvestment framework able to generateeconomic and social development for allMember States and European regions. ROPRES efforts resulted in partial mandates for trialogues with the European Parliament on four regulations from the Cohesion package.

Enhancing the Single Market

RO PRES actions created a substantive basisfor further advancing the actions at Europeanlevel contributing to ensuring a long-term vision regarding Single Market, as well as a long-term strategy for the European Union’s industrial policy. Rules having a direct impacton the single market and, in particular, onEuropean citizens were adopted, promotingequity and transparency for enterprises using on line platformsormodernizingthelegislativeframeworkinthesectorslinkedtoSingleMarket.

Supporting SMEs & Enterprises

RO PRES contributed to the revision of EU company law rules, ensuring they remain fittothedigitalageandcreatetheconditionsforEU businesses to grasp the opportunities ofdigitaltechnologies.ThenewEUrulesfacilitatethe cross-border mobility of companies andcreate a greater efficiency, transparency andlegalcertaintyforthem.Theywillalsoeliminateunjustified barriers to EU companies’ freedomofestablishmentwithintheSingleMarket.

Harmonised quality standards

ROPREScompletedthenegotiationsonEUlawthatensuresthecompliance and enforcement of EU legislation on products.Thenewruleswilllead to an increased confidence of consumersandotherend-users inproductsplacedontheEU market. Another success in harmonisingEU legislation to the benefits of citizens is theupdateoftheEUrulesthatintroduceenhanced safety standards for car manufacturers. ThismeasurewillsignificantlyreducethenumberoffatalitiesandsevereinjuriesonEUroadsandwillprovideanopportunityforEUcarmanufacturers

to consolidate their leadership in innovativevehiclesafetysystems.

Helping complete the Energy Union

RO PRES successfully finalised negotiations onthe Gas Directive and ensured that the rulesgoverningtheEU’sinternalgasmarketwillalsoapplyinthefuturetogaspipelinestoandfromthirdcountries.Thisreformfillstheexistinggapin theEU’s legislative framework in theenergyfield and ensures that the rules of the EnergyUnionareappliedconsistentlyacrosstheEU.

A climate neutral economy

ROPREScontributedtoadvancingtheEUagendaondecarbonisationand implementationof theParisAgreementaswellasonthepromotionofsustainabilityand sustainablegrowth.ROPRESfacilitated debates on the long-term strategic vision for a climate-neutral economy. A keyfocuswas to safeguard the competitivenessofEUeconomywhilstenablingthetransitiontoalow-carboneconomy.

ROPRESwascommittedtohelpingdecarbonise the transport sectorandthenewrulesoncleanvehicles are an essential step in this direction.They stimulate the market for zero- and low-emission vehicles, strengthening also thecompetitivenessofEuropeanindustryonglobalmarkets.

RO PRES also concluded Europe’s first-ever CO2 emission reduction targets for trucks framework. The new rules will ensure thatbetween 2025 and 2029, new truckswill emiton average 15% less CO2 compared to 2019emission levels and 30% less CO2 from 2030onwards.


objectiveofthe2020Agenda.Wesupportedthelaunchofa structured and inclusive process of reflection regarding the long-term objectives and the agenda of the post-2020 Partnership andwewereactively involved inthehigh-levelevents dedicated to Eastern Partnership’s ten-yearanniversary.

RO PRES encouraged an invigorated interest on the European Union agenda for the importance of the Black Sea by adopting the Common Maritime Agenda, the Strategic Agenda of Research and Innovation,aswellasbydrawingthe European institutions’ support for theeventsdedicatedtotheBlackSea.Inthelightofthesefavourabledevelopments,the reinforced support of the EU for the regional cooperation at the Black Sea was confirmed by the Council Conclusions adopted in June. The high-levelConferenceregardingthecooperationbetweenBSEC and the EU was another importantmilestone.

EU-Central Asia relations have also beenof interest on the regional agenda of ROPRES, enhanced through the EU-Central AsiaConnectivity Strategy and the adoption of thenewEUStrategyforCentralAsia.

The implementation of the EU Global Strategy was stimulated during RO PRES in whatregards the security and defence agenda, the integrated perspective on the instruments included in the Strategy, as well as the support for multilateralism. The Council Conclusionsadopted in June regarding the Security andDefenceAgendareflecttheprogressesachievedonthecivilianandmilitarycomponentsandthecoherence of instruments, ensuring a properbalancewhile reaffirming the relevanceofEU-NATO cooperation agenda. The Conference in Bucharest organised in the context of celebrating 70 years since NATO creation and 20 years since the launch of CSDP, underlined the importance of transparency and good communication between allies and partners.

TheeffortsofROPRESintheareaofcooperation for development were focused on promotingsubjectssuchas:childrenandyouth,education,aswellasthenewchallengesofthedevelopmentpolicy- thepartnershipwiththeprivatesector,implementing the external dimension of the 2030 Agenda, Europe-Africa relations.

RO PRES managed to simplify the rules andensurethenecessarylegalclarity.Thepositionofthe Council now includesmeasures supportingbeneficiaries, so as to preserve the strategicrole of the cohesion policy. These resultsbrokeredbyPRESROwillenabletherapidstartof negotiations with the EP in order to reachagreementsenablingthetimelystartofthenewoperationalprograms.

RO PRES 2019 delivered for strengthening the EU’s role as a global actor

Ensuring the relevance of the Union on the global scene by strengthening its role in the multilateral global architecture and in safeguarding the rules-based international order remains a major objective, with profound, multiple long-term implications for the EU as a whole and for the Member States.

RO PRES helped strengthening the EU’s profileofanactiveandefficientglobalplayer,stronglyinvolvedinitsneighborhoodandcrediblethroughhonoring its international commitments, fullyconsciousthattheEU’sexternalactionstartsatits borders and is accomplished in thebroaderframeworkofthemultilateraldimension.

RO PRES contributed to a positive dynamictowards progresses in relevant fields andgeographical areas of interest such as theWestern Balkans, the Eastern Partnership, the Black Sea region and Central Asia, the implementation of the Global Strategy, the security agenda and the commitment to multilateralism. EU relations with globalpartnersanddevelopmentsinMiddleEast,AsiaandAfrica,werealsofollowedbyROPRES.

ROPRESpromoted consistently and intensively

a positive agenda on the Enlargement Policy at EU level.

The Council conclusions on enlargement and stabilization and association process adopted in June 2019 reconfirmed this approach and ensured the means to continue the process, according to thepreviously assumedEuropean commitment.RO PRES managed to secure the remarkable and even historical developments registered in 2018 and to maintain the strategic opportunities created for the partners in the region.

RO PRES organized and chaired the EU-Montenegro Stabilization and Association Council(Brussels,27June2019)andtheEU-Serbia Intergovernmental Conference on Accession(Brussels,27June2019),markingtheopeningofanewnegotiationchapter–Chapter9/FinancialServices.

RO PRES succeeded in resuming, after 4 years, the meetings of the Association Council with Turkey (Brussels, March 15, 2019).

RO PRES made a tangible contribution to discussions on the efficiency of the regional cooperation mechanisms through a first-time event organized in cooperation with theActing Presidency of the South-East EuropeanCooperationProcess.Whatismore,a conference for the young generation in the Western Balkans wasorganized,addressingtopicalissues- entrepreneurship, innovation, digitization,youngsters’ role in reconciliation, strategiccommunication,democraticparticipation.

We contributed to ensuring visibility of the Eastern Partnershipandofthebenefitsachievedwithin it, by organising a series of sectoralevents in the areas of digitalisation, transport,energy, business and youth as well as throughour contribution in implementing the sectoral

#RO2019EU

Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

the romanian presidency of the council of the …€¦ · 1 january - 30 june 2019 the romanian...

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