[PIO] Participation of the Deputy Minister of State for European Affairs in the Informal EU General Affairs Council

The Informal General Affairs Council of the European Union (EU) concluded today in Brussels, with the participation of Deputy Minister of State for European Affairs Marilena Raouna. The work of the Informal Council focused, inter alia, on the rule of law in the context of the enlargement process and the future of Europe.

The breakfast discussion was attended by Ministers from countries with a European perspective, during which they exchanged views on the challenges, needs and best practices in the area of rule of law reforms in the context of the enlargement process. In her intervention, the Deputy Minister said that the current geopolitical developments make evident the importance of further promoting the enlargement process as an effective and indispensable geopolitical tool and catalyst for peace and stability in the EU. Further, after welcoming all acceding countries, he stressed that the accession process is governed by fair and strict conditionality and that each country is assessed on the basis of its progress in meeting the accession criteria. The rule of law, and respect for international law and good neighbourly relations are fundamental principles of the EU.

Member State ministers then discussed, in groups, ways of strengthening the Union's toolkit for the implementation of the rule of law on the basis of a study by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA). Ms Rauna chaired a working group with the participation of Estonia, Germany, Italy, Romania, Romania, Sweden and the General Secretariat of the Council of the EU, and presented the results of the discussions to the plenary of the Member States.

The Informal Council concluded with a debate on the future of Europe and the internal reforms of the Union. The Deputy Minister argued that the EU needs to become more resilient and competitive, strategically autonomous, so that it can effectively face future challenges, with policies that respond to the needs of European citizens.

In the margins of the Council, Ms Rauna had a bilateral meeting with Ms Cristina Gherasimov, Deputy Prime Minister of Moldova, responsible for European assimilation and Chief Negotiator with the EU. During the meeting they discussed Moldova's European path and progress in promoting the country's reform programme.

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