Romania took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 January 2019.

Over 6 months, until 30 June 2019, Romania will exercise its first mandate at the rotating Presidency of the EU Council against a background of a European agenda marked by political developments and dossiers with a decisive impact on the future of Europe.

The country is part of a trio Presidency – along with Finland (July-December 2019) and Croatia (January-June 2020) – which will work together over an 18-month period, on the basis of a common programme.

Within a quite complex and evolving framework, the Romanian Presidency will aim to promote a vision focused on the principle of European cohesion on all dimensions – political, economic and social. Under the motto “Cohesion, a common European value”, the programme of the Romanian Presidency will focus on identifying solutions that reflect both the interests of the Member States and the vision of the European institutions, acting in the spirit of a stronger and more united Europe.

In this vein, the priorities reflect the need for cohesion and have been assigned to four main pillars of action: 1) Europe of convergence: growth, cohesion, competitiveness, connectivity; 2) A safer Europe; 3) Europe as a stronger global actor; 4) Europe of common values.

The official opening ceremony of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union will take place on 10 January, at the Romanian Athenaeum in Bucharest. While, the programme will be made available on 15 January.

For more information please visit the website of the Romanian Presidency: https://www.romania2019.eu/home/