George Ciamba, sworn in as new minister-delegate for European affairs. Iohannis-Dancila, face-to-face meeting at Cotroceni after recent broadsides: Reasonable preparation of Council of the EU presidency still possible. Explanations from Finnish embassy: It was clear that Romania takes over the responsibility of the Presidency of EU Council

President Klaus Iohannis has told the members of the Dancila Cabinet, present at the swearing-in ceremony for Minister Delegate George Ciamba, that a reasonable preparation of the Council of the EU presidency is still possible. The statement comes after the President recently said that Romania is not ready. “I wish you good luck in this regard. It’s one second to midnight for a reasonable preparation of the presidency of the Council of the EU and I believe it’s still possible,” President Klaus Iohannis told Premier Viorica Dancila and the other members of Government present at the ceremony in which George Ciamba was sworn in as Minister Delegate for European Affairs, following Victor Negrescu’s resignation last Friday. According to information provided by the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s website, George Ciamba has been working within that ministry since December 1990. He became secretary of state in November 2012. Prior to being appointed secretary of state for European Affairs, George Ciamba was Romanian ambassador to the Republic of Greece (2005-2012). In February 2016, he was released from the office of secretary of state and was then reappointed in January 2017. The President signed on Tuesday the decree appointing Ciamba in office, shortly after Premier Viorica Dancila’s nomination reached the Cotroceni Palace. Klaus Iohannis announced on Tuesday, several hours before signing the decree, that he will take a quick decision regarding the nomination for the European Affairs portfolio. “Several weeks ago, they were making a ruckus with the Government reshuffle. I see now that a bit-by-bit reshuffle is taking place, namely they should go one by one. It seems I’ll receive two nominations, one of which will be analysed very quickly. I’m talking about the Minister Delegate for European Affairs, we are nevertheless getting ready to take over the presidency of the Council of the EU. I don’t know why Mr Negrescu resigned, what’s certain is that we don’t have a minister on the eve of the presidency. The nomination made seems to be one that I’ll read in a positive note. I’ve collaborated very well with Mr Ciamba so far and I believe it’s important that I issue a resolution for this nomination, for us to finally move,” Klaus Iohannis stated at the Cotroceni Palace. President Klaus Iohannis stated on Monday that Romania is not ready to take over the Council of the European Union, considering that the responsible Government members are being replaced or are leaving and “things have gone haywire.” “I must point out a great worry I have, even though it does not concern you directly. It’s about 2019, the year when Romania takes over the presidency of the Council of the EU, an extremely honouring and demanding position, especially for the Government. I believe we’re not ready for this. Several weeks ago, I said we’ll live up to it reasonably, it’s just that things have gone haywire in the meantime, it’s no longer clear at the Government who the responsible persons are, the persons who should deal with this are resigning or are being dismissed from office. I believe that even now, at the last moment, the political need is to replace the Dragnea-Dancila Government, this accident of Romanian democracy. There is no outlook for good governance and involvement in European affairs. These things are very grave,” Klaus Iohannis stated. Premier Viorica Dancila stated on Tuesday, for Antena3, that the President has made a personal obsession out of toppling the current Cabinet. “The President has made a personal obsession out of toppling the current Cabinet. I have the conviction that the Government will survive, because it’s the Government of Romania. (…) By making such statements, by wanting to topple the Government, Mr Iohannis does a profound disservice to Romania. I’m the supporter of good cooperation, but I’m forced to firmly condemn such an attitude. I wonder what the President wants. Anarchy? Instability? Because I believe this is the effect when you promote such statements,” Viorica Dancila stated for Antena3.    “Prime Minister’s Hour” postponed, Dancila chooses Cotroceni Palace, for Ciamba’s swearing-in, over the Palace of Parliament   The members of the House Standing Bureau have postponed the “Prime Minister’s Hour” meeting during which two sensitive topics regarding the EU criticism levelled against Romania would have been debated, in order to allow Viorica Dancila to attend the swearing-in of George Ciamba at the Cotroceni Palace. The House Standing Bureau took the decision to postpone the “Prime Minister’s Hour” for a later date which will be established by the leadership of the House.   Finnish PM expresses his country’s readiness to take over the presidency of the Council of the EU against the backdrop of political tensions in Bucharest, however Romanian officials say Romania can undertake this task   Finnish Premier Juha Sipila expressed on Monday evening his country’s readiness to take over the presidency of the Council of the EU, considering the political tensions in Bucharest, however Romanian officials have said that Romania can undertake this task in line with the schedule already established. Finland is set to take over the presidency of the Council in July 2019. His conclusion was that the political tensions in Bucharest will not affect the timetable of taking over the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU. Sipila told Finland’s STT agency on Tuesday that Romania does not intend to postpone the taking over of the presidency of the EU, scheduled to start on 1 January 2019 and to be followed by Finland’s presidency in July. The Finnish press quotes Klaus Iohannis’s statement according to which “the situation has worsened” and that there is “a political need to replace the Government,” which he called “an accident of Romanian democracy.” “We are in the eleventh hour and we’re unprepared. There is no chance of a good Government or of proper involvement in European affairs,” Iohannis stated, the statement being quoted by Finnish journalists. Consequently, Sipila stated on Monday evening that the Finnish Government has prepared for a potential request on the part of Bucharest to...

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