Romania

Romania officially took over the mandate for the Presidency of the European Union Council on the 1st of January 2019 and supported the duties that come along with this role until the 1st of July 2019, when it hand it over to Finland.

The official programmme associated with the given period of time highlights four pillars of importance, namely: Europe of Convergence, A safer Europe, Europe as a stronger global actor and Europe of Common Values. In regard to its role in promoting the development and international cooperation policies of the EU, Romania committed to adopt a stronger position in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Neighborhood, especially in the Black Sea region, thus also maintaining a strategic partnership with Turkey. Moreover, the negotiations of several subjects are due to take place in this term, such as a newly defined Instrument for Neighborhood, Development and International Cooperation (under the Multiannual Financial Framework), or the post-Cotonou Agreement (relations with Africa Caribbean and Pacific group of states).

In this context, the Romanian NDGO platform – FOND was actively involved in facilitating the dialogue between the civil society organisations from Romania and the neighborhood region (Black Sea Region, Western Balkans), relevant stakeholders and official representatives at both national and European level.