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The most important subject discussed at the General Affairs Council (GAC) meeting this Tuesday was the multi-annual financial framework, Minister Delegate for European Affairs George Ciamba, who chaired the meeting, told a media briefing. He pointed out that Romania will spare no effort to provide a basis for an agreement on this topic in autumn.
The most important issue we tackled today was the next multi-annual financial framework, which is a strategic file for our Presidency. We once again expressed the ambition to deliver. I believe that the European Council has set the deadline for this autumn, but this does not mean that we should be less ambitious. I consider we must do everything possible, Ciamba told a press conference in Brussels. "We want to prepare a basis for an agreement in autumn 2019," he said.
Ciamba also spoke about Romania's approach of the Presidency of the Council of the EU: I emphasized that we will work like a neutral broker to rise to expectations, we want to preserve unity and cohesion in the Union in a dynamic period that is marked by challenges - the Brexit, but at the same time by the bridge in between institutional cycles.
The Romanian official mentioned the Sibiu Summit due to take place during the Romanian Presidency, adding that disinformation was also a topic discussed at Tuesday's CAG meeting.
Disinformation has become one of the greatest challenges to our democracies. In order to be effective, we need joint efforts of the EU member states and of the civil society, Minister Delegate for European Affairs Ciamba pointed out, adding that action is particularly urgent ahead of the 2019 EP elections, in order to protect them against 'outside influences', but that a longer term strategy needs to be developed, in full respect of fundamental rights.
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The legislative cycle ends with our term and this is why we must be very ambitious. We must be realistic, but it is very important to advance and close as many files as possible in the next few weeks. (...) We want to work with determination, optimism and realism at the same time, Ciamba concluded.
AGERPRES .
