Secretary of State for bilateral and strategic affairs in the Euro-Atlantic area, George Ciamba, participated on Thursday in the 8th edition of the Istanbul International Cooperation Platform Summit, on which occasion he underlined that the EU and NATO remain the pillars of Romania's foreign policy, the MAE informs in a statement.
The Romanian dignitary delivered a speech at the roundtable Investing in the Common Future of Europe: Time for Constructive Vision and Substantial Action, in which he showed that these days that are marked by so many challenges, rapid changes and uncertainties require closer cooperation both within the EU, and in the relationship with the Union's external partners. According to him, it is necessary to quickly adapt the instruments of cooperation to the international realities and to challenges such as Brexit, separatist trends, terrorism, populism expansion, migration crisis, climate change or economic challenges, because there is no such state which can managed all these unilaterally.
The continuation of European integration is essential, George Ciamba stressed, with the main objective being a more coherent, pragmatic, transparent, flexible and more closer to the citizens union. He also pointed out that the unity and cohesion of the European Union must be based on a positive agenda, a common vision and focused on concrete projects to bring added value to all citizens of Europe.
The same source said that Secretary of State George Ciamba also stressed that the European Union needs to remain committed to the Western Balkan countries and those in the Eastern Neighborhood and to support those states that are determined to follow the European path and fulfill the necessary criteria. The Secretary of State also pointed out that Romania continues to be a promoter of the continuation of Turkey's European aspirations, given the importance of the cooperation for the stability of the European continent and the Black Sea region.