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Foreign Affairs Minister Teodor Melescanu on Wednesday said after the meeting with his Italian counterpart Angelino Alfano that he is positive that Romania will further benefit from Italy's support for a positive decision in the file of accession to the Schengen area. "The European Union is confronted today with a series of major, complex challenges, with in perspective implications. The discussions showed that Romania and Italy continue to plead for a strong European Union, for a cohesive, unitary Union, which should be able to solve the problems that are on the agenda today, based on the respect for the fundamental values and principles which make up the foundation of the European project. I thank once more my colleague for the firm and without reservations support which his country grants to Romania's accession to Schengen. I am positive that we'll further benefit from Italy's support for a positive decision in this file," Melescanu said after the meeting with Italian Foreign and International Cooperation Minister Angelino Alfano.
Minister Angelino Alfano highlighted Italy's support for Romania. "We are and will be by Romania's side for its own ambitions and battles inside the EU and we are by Romania's side for an important political meeting, namely the semestral Presidency of the Council of the EU next year. We are truly close and we don't feel as being in front of or behind Romania, but we fell by Romania's side and we are going side by side," Alfano said.
The two officials approached topics concerning Europe's future, including from the perspective of the ongoing political developments in this space. "We highlighted Romania's firm commitment and the will to actively participate in the debate on re-grounding the European project and the strategic vision on Europe's future. In accordance with the commitments assumed in the European Council, Romania is open to participating, based on its efforts and capacities, in the common effort to manage the migration situation. (...) We have also discussed the European perspective of the Western Balkans, which both countries support and in the context of the recent developments registered in the EU vicinity it is so much more important for the EU and for the candidate states to reaffirm the added value which the EU enlargement policy has, making sure at the same time that the involved states meet the criteria to join the EU," Melescanu added.
He approach with his Italian counterpart the situation in the Republic of Moldova, the Eastern Neighbourhood in general, and underscored that "it is extremely important in this period that the political forces of Chisinau remain committed to the European path and consolidate the credibility both on a domestic and on a foreign level." "We agreed to work together for the reform process of the European vicinity policy. It is a reform process which both Romania and Italy have brought a consistent contribution to through the proposals presented in the EU," Melescanu also said.
The Romanian Foreign Minister brought to mind Italy's taking over the OSCE chairmanship-in-office mandate for the current year. "I assured him of Romania's firm support in the effort to manage the complex challenges to security in Europe. I argued for maintaining among the priorities the frozen conflict solving, particularly those in the Transnistrian area, as well as the crisis in Ukraine and around. One of the OSCE's assets remains the comprehensive approach by reflecting all three dimensions in its actions," Melescanu pointed out.
