Radio România Internațional

Tag: EU leaders

  • Talks on Ukraine

    Talks on Ukraine

    From the perspective of the interim president of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, the security of neighboring Ukraine, invaded by Russian troops, is essential both for Romania and for the entire European continent. In a video-link intervention at the summit hosted by Kyiv, Bolojan said that support for Ukraine must continue in the following stages, in the peace process and in the reconstruction process. Romania is ready to coordinate with all European, American and allied partners to contribute to finding the path to a fair and lasting peace as quickly as possible, interim president Bolojan further noted. Any discussion about ending the war in Ukraine cannot take place without Ukraine, the Foreign Ministry in Bucharest also reported on Monday, marking three years since the invasion began. Moreover, the MFA adds, there can be no just and lasting peace without holding accountable all those guilty of the crimes committed against Ukraine. The Ministry emphasizes that, for Romania, a secure, resilient, stable, democratic and prosperous Ukrainian state remains a fundamental foreign policy objective. Furthermore, no discussion about security in Europe can take place without the direct involvement of European states, the Ministry also notes.

     

    This view seems to be widely shared right now. The participation of Europeans in peace talks with Ukraine will be necessary in the end, Russian president Vladimir Putin said himself, suggesting however, that the war will last. The new White House leader, Donald Trump, in turn agreed that Europeans should play a role in the Ukraine peace process, by guaranteeing its security. Trump also stated that Putin would agree to a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine, a solution that Moscow had previously rejected. In Washington, the American president met his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, who said that a ceasefire might be reached in a few weeks.

     

    In the meantime, the European Council President, António Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, traveled to Kyiv to reiterate their support for Ukraine. The EU will continue its support, also by stepping up pressure with new sanctions against the Russian aggressor, EU officials said. Although not agreed by all EU member states, a new €20-billion military aid package is also on Brussels’ agenda, which the EU claims will strengthen Kyiv’s position in negotiations, rather than contribute to achieving peace. (VP)

  • Who are the new leaders of European institutions?

    Who are the new leaders of European institutions?

    Meeting for the second time after the European Parliament election at the start of June, EU leaders decided who will occupy the key positions in EU institutions. Ursula von der Leyen was nominated for the presidency of the Commission, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas for the position of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa will take over the presidency of the European Council. The three positions are thus divided between the three political groups that form the majority in the European Parliament – the European People’s Party, Renew and the Social-Democrats. As head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas will also have to tackle the issue of Union security.

     

     

    “This is enormous responsibility in this time of geopolitical tensions. There’s war in Europe, there’s also growing instability globally that are also the main challenges of European foreign policy”.

     

     

    The appointments were agreed on the sidelines of a negotiation meeting held within in a limited framework, attended by six European leaders from the three pro-European political groups, which favor the deepening of European integration and the consolidation of the EU’s prerogatives, something that irritated the head of the Italian government, Giorgia Meloni, who was left out of these talks. Negotiating the positions were German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Polish and Greek Prime Ministers Donald Tusk and Kyriakos Mitsotakis, French President Emmanuel Macron and Dutch Interim Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Meloni, whose party is part of the European Conservatives and Reformists group in the European Parliament, said the six negotiators had formed an oligarchy to decide upon the next positions without taking into account will of citizens who voted in the European Parliament election of June 6-9. The election confirmed an increase in voters’ choices for Eurosceptic conservative parties, without, however, overturning the majority formed by the EPP, S&D and Renew. Leaders of EU member states also adopted the strategic agenda of the Union for the next five years, with economic competitiveness, the defense of democratic values, internal reforms for the expansion of the Union and security among the top priorities. The agenda also stipulates budget allocations for defense spending. According to Ursula von der Leyen, the EU needs an additional 500 bln EUR for defense in the next 10 years

     

     

    Ukraine remains another priority, both in terms of EU accession and financial and military assistance. During talks regarding the EU Strategic Agenda, Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, said the document must reflect joint commitments to continue efforts towards a stronger, more resilient and more influential EU at global level. (VP)