President Klaus Johannis stated on Tuesday that there will be consultations and debates about the future of the EU, showing that the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker's presentation of the White Paper represents the beginning of debates, not their end. "We will certainly have both consultations and public debate. I believe that some have misunderstood what it is about...The fact that President Juncker released the White Paper represents the beginning of debates, not the end. Now, on Thursday, Friday, nothing will be decided about the future of the Union in this respect. Even the initiator expressed his expectations that until 2019, probably, when the the next Parliament, the next Commission are elected, we will have a result to show what should be the direction. We are not at the end of the discussion, but at its beginning and I expect that everyone who has a substantiated opinion to share it so that we have many consultations, dialogue and so on," declared Iohannis, after attending the presentation of the Public Ministry's activity report for 2016.
He pointed out that a two-speed Europe is not good. "Ever since I became President of Romania I addressed this issue and I said that a two or multi-speed Europe is not good, it does not help anyone and this is worth clarifying a little. It does not mean that we don't see that countries develop at a different pace, this is easy to spot. This is not what I am referring to. A multi-speed Europe does not refer to the actual situation, but, in my opinion, it is dangerous to rule that this is how we want to be in the future. At least us, Romanians, we want to become part of the core and I imagine that this is the healthiest approach," asserted the head of the state.
President Iohannis argued that each "runs at their own speed," but that the goal is building a "solid, strong and united" Union.