PM Dancila and EC First Vice-President Timmermans agree to establish joint punctually analysis committee for CVM

Prime Minister Viorica Dancila stated that, on the occasion of her visit paid to Brussels, she agreed with First Vice-President of the European Commission (EC) Frans Timmermans to set up a joint committee, made up of experts of the Government and from Brussels, to punctually analyse the stage of the Co-operation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) and re-confirmed that the Executive in Bucharest wishes the CVM be lifted, for it sees it as "discriminatory." "Indeed, I had two important meetings, the first meeting with First Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans - I tackled the CVM issue, we mutually agreed to establish a committee to carry out a point-by-point analysis, a committee made up of experts of Romania's Government, experts from Brussels, so that we start making important steps, because, as you know, we want the CVM be lifted. We believe that the CVM is discriminatory because only Romania and Bulgaria are subjected to this Co-operation and Verification Mechanism and we believe that both the obligations and opportunities should be equal for all member states. Therefore, we agreed on this and we agreed to discuss the matter in more concrete terms on the occasion of the visit Frans Timmermans is set to pay to Romania on Monday (...) and see what are the first steps to be taken in this direction," Viorica Dancila stated on Thursday evening at private broadcaster Romania TV. The PM added tha,t in her view, this approach is a correct one, because "if we want to advance, we need dialogue." "Through a constructive dialogue, by discussing on concrete issues, I believe that we can make important steps, so that we can request, for the umpteenth time, the lifting of the Co-operation and Verification Mechanism," Dancila stated. The Prime Minister also referred to the meeting she had with the European Chief Negotiator for the United Kingdom Exiting the European Union Michel Barnier "We talked about Brexit, we've seen where we're at and, indeed, there is a lot of uncertainty. It's important what will happen on 12 in the House of Commons, the vote that will be cast there it's important, but all member states - and I really appreciate the manner in which Michael Barnier coordinated, the manner in which he managed - agree over the fact that the agreement shouldn't be opened. Even if negotiations are to be held from a political point of view, there may be talks, but the agreement will not be opened," Dancila stated. The PM added that Romania is ready for any scenario and it will very cooperate well with the European Chief Negotiator for the United Kingdom Exiting the European Union. AGERPRES (RO - author: Daniel Florea, editor: Antonia Nita; EN - author: Rodica State, editor: Cristina Zaharia)