President Iohannis welcomes EC's Minzatu

President Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday welcomed Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Roxana Minzatu, responsible for social rights and skills, quality jobs and preparedness, underscoring the essential role of education in combatting disinformation and manipulation, as well as for strengthening the democratic resilience of European societies.The meeting at the Cotroceni Palace with the European official takes place among a series of visits for the publication of the European Commission's initiatives on a Union of Skills.According to the Presidential Administration, discussed at the meeting were the social dimension of the European Union's policies, increasing EU's competitiveness at global level, the European Union's strategy in the areas of preparedness and resilience in the face of challenges, the EU's approaches to education and the involvement of the Romanian education system in the European context.Iohannis congratulated Minzatu on the start of her activity within the new European Commission and highlighted the fact that the social dimension acquires an increased significance in the set of EU measures and objectives for the coming period.At the same time, Iohannis said that areas such as climate transition, the new vision on industrial policy or the Internal market, artificial intelligence and digital transition, security and defence have a major social component, and the success of these policies depends on the degree of preparedness and understanding at the level of society, but also on the social sustainability of the proposed measures.He mentioned the need for energetic and solidary action, but also for institutional coherence, in the current European context, being essential the coordinated action, which privileges European consensus, through joint decisions that are passed so as to take into account the interests of all EU member states and their citizens.During the discussions on the "mid-term review" of the current Multiannual Financial Framework, Iohannis pointed to the need for greater flexibility in financing, which would allow for a more efficient use of funding that match the specific needs and priorities of each member state.Iohannis also pointed to the essential role of education in combatting disinformation and manipulation, as well as in strengthening the democratic resilience of European societies.Other issues related to other topics of interest on the European Union's agenda included the future post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework, strengthening European action in the field of defence, supporting EU industrial sectors with strategic valences and the automotive industry.In her turn, Minzatu presented the main priorities of the new European Commission, including in the field of employment, social rights and educational programmes funded by the European Union in Romania, as well as crisis preparedness.She also highlighted the main milestones of the commission's initiatives regarding the Union of Skills, pointing out the need to invest in basic skills, technical and vocational education, and also the importance of strengthening the Erasmus programme.  (Photo:https://www.presidency.ro/)