Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, January to June 2019

Summary:

Romania took over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, from January until June 2019, the first occasion since its EU accession. The motto of the Romanian Presidency is 'Cohesion, a Common European Value'.

Further information:

Media sources reported on statements by the President of the European Commission showing concerns over Romania's ability to successfully undertake the Council presidency, sparking reactions from stakeholders in both Romania and the European Union.

The opening ceremony of this rotating Presidency was held on 10 January. A debate was held at the European Parliament on 15 January with Romania's Prime Minister to discuss the rotating Presidency. The priorities of the Presidency were discussed with a number of committees of the European Parliament at a series of meetings from 21 January.

Official

European Commission: Discours par le Président Juncker à la cérémonie d'ouverture de la présidence roumaine du Conseil de l'Union européenne [in French] http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-19-325_fr.htm

European Council: Remarks by President Donald Tusk at the opening ceremony of the Romanian Presidency https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2019/01/10/remarks-by-president-donald-tusk-at-the-opening-ceremony-of-the-romanian-presidency/

European Parliament: Press Release, 15/01/2019: Romanian Presidency of the Council: debate with Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20190109IPR23015/

European Parliament: Press Release, 22/01/2019: Romanian Presidency priorities discussed in committees http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20190122IPR24027/

European Parliament: Press Release, 16/07/2019: Romanian Presidency reviewed in plenary http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20190711IPR56826/

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News

Politico, 29/12/2018: Juncker has ‘doubts’ about Romania’s ability to lead EU https://www.politico.eu/article/jean-claude-juncker-doubts-romania-eu-council-presidency/

Romania Insider, 29/12/2018: EC President says Romania lacks leadership skills for EU Presidency https://www.romania-insider.com/ec-president-says-romania-lacks-leadership-skills-for-eu-presidency/

Deutsche Welle, 29/12/2018: Romania not fit for EU presidency, says EU's Jean-Claude Juncker https://p.dw.com/p/3Al0c

The Guardian, 30/12/2018: Romania to take over EU presidency amid fears for rule of law https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/30/romania-to-take-over-eu-presidency-amid-fears-for-rule-of-law

The New York Times, 30/12/2018: Romania, Fighting the E.U., Prepares to Lead It https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/30/world/europe/eu-presidency-romania.html

Politico, 01/01/2019: Tusk backs Romania’s EU presidency after Juncker’s ‘doubts’ https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-tusk-backs-romania-eu-presidency-after-jean-claude-juncker-doubts/

Euronews, 01/01/2019: Romania to take EU presidency role https://www.euronews.com/2018/12/31/romania-to-take-eu-presidency-role

France24, 01/01/2019: Romania takes over EU presidency amid strained relations with Brussels https://www.france24.com/en/20190101-romania-takes-over-eu-presidency-tensions-brussels-juncker

Reuters, 10/01/2019: Romania says political infighting won't hamper its EU presidency https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1P421E

EurActiv, 10/01/2019: Romania glosses over presidency preparedness concerns https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/romania-glosses-over-presidency-preparedness-concerns/

Deutsche Welle, 11/01/2019: Romania's EU presidency overshadowed by corruption cases https://p.dw.com/p/3BLnQ

Romania Insider, 15/01/2019: Romanian PM, under fire in European Parliament on possible amnesty bill https://www.romania-insider.com/romanian-pm-under-fire-in-european-parliament-on-possible-amnesty-bill/

EurActiv, 23/01/2019: Romanian EU Presidency to push Western Balkans case, minister says https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/interview/romanian-eu-presidency-to-push-western-balkans-case-minister-says/

Agriland, 23/01/2019: Farming to the fore during Romanian EU presidency https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/farming-to-the-fore-during-romanian-eu-presidency/

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Commentary and Analysis

Deutsche Welle, 01/01/2019: Romania's farcical incompetence unlikely to impact EU https://p.dw.com/p/3Ak7D

Euro|topics, January 2019: Is Romania fit for the EU Council presidency? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/212322/

The Conversation, 03/01/2019: Why Romania is clashing with Brussels at the worst possible time https://theconversation.com/why-romania-is-clashing-with-brussels-at-the-worst-possible-time-109303

ECFR: Commentary, 04/01/2019: Romania’s presidency of the EU: Good policy, bad politics https://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_romania_presidency_of_the_eu_good_policy_bad_politics

Aspen Institute: White Paper – Romanian Priorities and the Presidency of the Council of the EU https://aspeninstitute.ro/white-paper-romanian-priorities-and-the-presidency-of-the-council-of-the-eu/

EurActiv, 10/01/2019: Movers and shakers of Romania’s EU presidency https://www.euractiv.com/section/euroad2sibiu/news/movers-and-shakers-of-romanias-eu-presidency/

EurActiv: Special Reports, July 2019: Romania’s EU presidency: A glance back https://www.euractiv.com/section/euroad2sibiu/special_report/romanias-eu-presidency-a-glance-back/

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