President Klaus Iohannis, Vice President of Swiss Federal Council discuss Romania’s mandate of EU Council

President Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday welcomed at the Cotroceni Palace Vice President of the Swiss Federal Council and head of the Federal Department of Finances of the Swiss Confederation Ueli Maurer , with whom he discussed about the future presidency of the Council of the European Union to be held by Romania in the first half of next year. According to a press release of the Presidential Administration, the meeting with the head of the state takes place in the context in which, starting on January 1, 2019, Ueli Maurer will take over the presidency of the Swiss Confederation, for 1-year term, and reflects the attention paid by the Swiss Confederations to Romania’s future mandate at the presidency of the Council of the European Union. In this context, President Klaus Iohannis evoked the open and constructive discussions he had with the President of the Swiss Confederation, Alain Berset, who paid an official visit to Romania early this month. The head of the state also voiced hope for the dynamics of the bilateral political dialogue, which will lead to the strengthening of cooperation between Romania and Switzerland, in fields of shared interest. In his turn, Vice President Ueli Maurer highlighted the fact that the Romanian citizens who work in Switzerland are well integrated, representing an work force that is appreciated and respected, with good professional skills. The high Swiss official underscored that, as established, the restraining measures temporarily imposed on Romania and Bulgaria will be lifted starting on June 1, 2019. Moreover, President Klaus Iohannis conveyed Romania’s appreciation for the programmes carried out as part of Switzerland’s financial contribution to the cohesion of the European Union and voiced hope that such projects will be continued in the future. Vice President Ueli Maurer showed that the internal procedures in Switzerland are ongoing for the second tranche of the financial contribution to be granted and highlighted that the Swiss part is first of all interested in promoting in Romania projects related to professional training. In respect to the European Affairs, President Iohannis gave assurance to the Swiss official that our country will keep a constant and open dialogue with Switzerland including during the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Thus, Romania will actively watch the negotiations regarding the conclusion of an institutional framework agreement between the European Union and Switzerland and the new financial contribution of Switzerland to the EU Cohesion Funds. The meeting between the two officials took place in the context of the visit that the Swiss official is paying to Romania.

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