Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz: Symbolic handover of the Council presidency from Austria to Romania

Meeting with President Klaus Iohannis and Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă² in Bucharest

On 21 December 2018 Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz³ met with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis and Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă in Bucharest on the occasion of the symbolic handover of the EU⁴ Council⁵ presidency from Austria to Romania. The Federal Chancellor availed of the opportunity to underline the importance of democracy and Rule of Law: “Without them we would lack the basis for peace and freedom.” He thanked the Romanian head of state for “keeping an eye on Rule of Law and democracy in Romania in his role as president”. The Romanian president is also “widely recognised” and a “valued partner” in the European Union, said Sebastian Kurz, who presented Klaus Iohannis an EU pennant to symbolise the handover of the Council presidency.

Recognition of Austrian Presidency accomplishments

Klaus Iohannis assured that Romania is “well prepared” for its Council presidency in the first half of 2019. In front of media representatives Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă was also confident that Romania will have a successful presidency. Moreover, Klaus Iohannis praised the accomplishments achieved by the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the EU and promised that his country wishes to build on them and continue Austria’s efforts. Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz also highlighted the good relationship between the two countries: “Our countries have many common interests and traditionally work well together, for example regarding the Western Balkans, the Danube region and the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood.”

Focus on Brexit, financial framework and EU elections

It will be the first time that this Eastern European country, which became a member of the EU in 2007, takes over the presidency of the Council of the European Union. The main topics of the coming 6 months are likely to be the future financial framework of the EU for 2021‑2027, the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union (Brexit⁶) as well as the elections to the European Parliament in May. The topic of migration will remain on the agenda. President Klaus Iohannis spoke out in favour of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union on the basis of the withdrawal agreement made with the EU. He also advocated an early opening of negotiations on the future relationship.

Photos from the visit to Romania are provided free of charge by the photographer services of the Federal Chancellery at http://fotoservice.bundeskanzleramt.at.

• 1. 

  Van 1 juli tot en met 31 december 2018 vervulde Oostenrijk het voorzitterschap van de Raad van de Europese Unie. Oostenrijk volgde hiermee Bulgarije op. Oostenrijk was al twee keer eerder voorzitter van de Raad, in 1998 en 2006.
   
• 2. 

  Viorica Dăncilă (1963) was a member of the European Parliament from 21 January 2009 to 28 January 2018 as an independent member, and was aligned with the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats. Dăncilă took seat in Parliament on behalf of Romania.
   
• 3. 

  Sebastian Kurz (1986) was van 7 januari 2020 tot 9 oktober 2021 bondskanselier van Oostenrijk. Daarnaast was hij van 2017 tot eind 2021 leider van de christendemocratische ÖVP (Östenreichische Volkspartij). In die hoedanigheid leidde hij een coalitie met de Groenen. Kurz was in het kabinet-Kern (2013-2017) minister van Buitenlandse Zaken en daarvoor twee jaar staatssecretaris van integratie. Hij was van 18 december 2017 tot en met 30 juni 2019 al eerder bondskanselier. Zijn partij vormde toen een coalitieregering met de rechts-liberale FPÖ.
   
• 4. 

  De Europese Unie (EU) is het belangrijkste samenwerkingsverband in Europa. De deelnemende landen hebben voor deze Unie een aantal organisaties opgericht waaraan zij een deel van hun eigen bevoegdheden hebben overgedragen. Dit zijn onder meer het Europees Parlement, de Europese Commissie, de Raad en het Europese Hof van Justitie.
   
• 5. 

  In the Council, government ministers from each EU country meet to discuss, amend and adopt laws, and coordinate policies. The ministers have the authority to commit their governments to the actions agreed on in the meetings.
  Together with the European Parliament , the Council is the main decision-making body of the EU.
  Not to be confused with:
   
• 6. 

  Het Verenigd Koninkrijk verliet op 31 januari 2020 de Europese Unie. Het is daarmee het eerste land ooit dat uit de Europese Unie stapte. Het vertrek van de Britten ('brexit') was de uitkomst van een referendum over het lidmaatschap van de EU in het Verenigd Koninkrijk in 2016. Nadien volgden lange onderhandelingen over de scheidingsvoorwaarden en de overgangsperiode na de brexit, die op 31 december 2020 afliep. Eind december 2020 bereikten de onderhandelaars van de Europese Unie en het Verenigd Koninkrijk een handels- en samenwerkingsovereenkomst. Die overeenkomst regelt vanaf 1 januari 2021 de relatie tussen de EU en het Verenigd Koninkrijk.