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"There is an extremely difficult time ahead of us; there are extremely difficult files that we want to treat in a fair way, but also with a lot of determination for a positive or optimistic outcome. That will not always be possible. One of the files is called Brexit where things are certainly still at a stage where it depends very much on the ongoing negotiations. But we want to reach an agreement with the UK and we want to have this agreement very quickly. Romania will get involved to the extent the presidency of the European Council can get involved. As far as the Brexit negotiation is concerned, that is a first, palpable, clear and transparent proof of the effectiveness of collaboration - that the 27 have worked strictly together, and accepted a single negotiating team has led to notable results. Unity is a concept of visionary politicians," Iohannis told a debate on the future of Europe hosted by the European Parliament.
"There is a file that (...) I know is dear to you and to us. It is the multiannual financial framework. We have to make progress with the file. In Romania's opinion, Parliament's encouragement to increase the budget is a good thing, but the negotiation will have to continue. And there is where Romania will get involved and we hope to reach significant progress with sensitive areas in this budget, if not completing the negotiations," said Iohannis.
Migration is the theme of another file to be managed by the upcoming EU Council presidency. "We have to reach a joint approach as soon as possible. If we fail to define a European policy in this area, then we will have a major problem. Romania will get involved in moving these negotiations forward. So far, we have been moved by crisis to action, but we have to act before a crisis, that is what I meant when I said that the EU must act preventively. We know how the world works, but we have to prepare to deal with the effects of this function. During the Romanian presidency, European elections will take place, and during the European elections canvassing we will have a summit in Sibiu, which is extremely important to Romania and the EU (...) because it has a unique and clear theme - the future of the European Union. We will discuss and sketch up clear thinking about the European Union clear that is easy to understand by the European citizens, not just the European politicians. And next year's elections to the EP will give us an X-ray, show us if we were all credible, if we knew how to produce credible projects, if we know how to draw a future for the EU or if we still have a little work to do," said Iohannis.
