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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) welcomes the speech on the State of the European Union, delivered on Wednesday by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in the plenary session of the European Parliament, as well as the strong appeal made in favor of continuing the joint effort to strengthen the European project, for the benefit of a stronger and more united Union.
"The messages formulated by the president of the European Commission highlight, first of all, the achievements of recent years within the Union, as a response to the multiple challenges it has faced, such as the management of the economic crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, the creation of an unprecedented tool for managing the economic effects of these challenges, namely the NextGenerationEU instrument, or maintaining European unity as a reaction to the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine", the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says in a release sent to AGERPRES.
According to the cited source, President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the need to continue implementing the strategic objectives of the Union aimed at the ecological and digital transition, the achievement of a sustainable and fair European economy, the humane management of migration, maintaining unity in the face of Russian aggression and holding Russia accountable, the expansion of the Union, in parallel with the recalibration of EU actions globally, in the new international context.
"The MAE particularly welcomes the direct and firm call expressed by the President Ursula von der Leyen for the fastest possible accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen Area, as well as the message of appreciation for the contribution of the two countries to the management of the challenges caused by migration, through highlighting good practices in terms of asylum and return, as a reconfirmation of the fact that the two countries are already de facto part of the Schengen area. The MAE also welcomes the strong message sent by President Von der Leyen regarding the continuation of the enlargement policy, as well as the clear reconfirmation of the European perspective of the Eastern partners, by referring specifically to the fact that the future of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova is within the Union, as well as to the importance of this perspective for the citizens of Georgia. In this context, the president of the European Commission also announced the start of an analysis process with regarding the needs to adapt EU policies in the perspective of an enlarged Union", states the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The MAE reiterates, on this occasion, Romania's commitment to continue acting as an active promoter of the consolidation of EU unity and solidarity and for the advancement of the European project for the benefit of all citizens.
The State of the Union speech (SOTEU) of the President of the European Commission in the plenary session of the European Parliament is a traditional moment in the institutional dynamics at the EU level, which takes place, as a rule, at the beginning of September, together with the resumption of the plenary activity of the European Parliament. Based on the ideas from SOTEU, the European Commission subsequently sends to the attention of the European Parliament and the Council of the EU the letter of intent that reflects the legislative and non-legislative priorities of the European Commission for the following year, says the MAE.
