Europe (Brussels Morning) – Romanian President Iohannis hosts EU Council President Michel and Prime Ministers at Cotroceni Palace, discussing EU’s strategic priorities and Iohannis’ candidacy for NATO Secretary General.
The president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis going to host the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, as well as the Prime Ministers of Hungary – Viktor Orban, Belgium – Alexander De Croo, and Croatia – Andrej Plenkovic at Cotroceni Palace
The discussion with Charles Michel starts at 5:30 PM, and the three prime ministers will be subsequently welcomed, all at once, starting at 6:30 PM, according to the agenda delivered by the Presidential Administration of Romania.
Every five years, EU leaders arrange the Union’s political priorities for the future, putting the EU’s strategic agenda, according to the European Council. The meeting comes before the European Parliament elections (in June) and takes place before the assignment of each European Commission.
However, for Klaus Iohannis, the stakes may be more elevated now, as he wishes to garner support for his candidacy for the post of NATO Secretary General, a post also pursued by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. The President of Romania, according to sources, has received support from leaders in Central and Eastern Europe, such as Slovenia, or from Montenegro, the President of this country having visited Bucharest in March, but it is far from effective support.
However, Iohannis’ entrance into the race has put Rutte’s candidacy into question, and the fact that EU member states around the Ukrainian war want an Eastern Alliance leader could be a notification that has been assimilated at the level of major military powers. “The consultations held in Bucharest are component of a broader process of representing the European Union’s priorities for the period 2024 – 2029, formed during the informal meeting of the European Council in Granada on October 6, 2023, when the dialogues among EU member states’ leaders demonstrated interest in placing security and defence, global involvement and EU growth, as well as stability and competitiveness of the Union at the vanguard of the European agenda.
Based on the coordinates specified in Granada, the discussions at the meeting at Cotroceni Palace will be a chance to delve into these elements and explore the lines of action at the EU level towards attaining common objectives of strengthening the EU’s profile internationally, providing prosperity, and promoting and defending democracy and European values,” specified Romanian Presidential Administration.
The meeting between Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, European Council President Charles Michel, and Prime Ministers from Hungary, Belgium, and Croatia at Cotroceni Palace underscores the critical juncture at which the European Union finds itself. Set against the backdrop of defining strategic priorities for the EU’s future, including the imminent European Parliament elections and the appointment of the next European Commission, this meeting holds immense significance. Moreover, President Iohannis’s aspiration for the NATO Secretary General post adds another layer of complexity, indicating shifting dynamics within both the EU and NATO. It signifies a broader process of aligning EU priorities with global challenges, emphasizing security, defence, and international engagement.
