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Aminah_Khan
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Joined: 26 Apr 2008
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 Posted: 26/04/2008 18:57 Post subject: Romania – Member State of the European Union |
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Romania became a Member State of the European Union on 1 January 2007, within the established timetable, thus completing a process initiated in the mid 90’s.
Romania’s path to the EU
Romania’s accession, together with the accession of Bulgaria, on 1 January 2007, concluded the fifth wave of enlargement of the Union, which had started on 1 May 2004 with the accession of eight Central and Eastern European countries, as well as Cyprus and Malta.
Since 1 January 2007, the European Union has been a community reuniting 27 Member States with a population of 492.8 million citizens and 23 official languages.
Romania joined a Union of European states that share the same values, with a strong focus on the respect for human dignity, democracy, rule of law and the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The European Union’s objectives are to ensure peace and prosperity, and its major accomplishments include the internal market, as well as the establishment of the Schengen area and of the Euro zone.
Romania’s main objective is to consolidate the progress and the reforms achieved so far in order to ensure a real integration within the Union. On the other hand, Romania wishes to contribute, in an active manner, to achieving the projects on the European agenda and identifying efficient solutions for the challenges ahead.
Rights of Romanian citizens in the European Union
Following Romania’s accession, the Romanian citizens have become citizens of the European Union. As of 1 January 2007, Romanian citizens who travel outside the national territory benefit, both on the territory of the Member States of the Union and on the territory of other countries, of the rights granted by the Treaties of the European Union to all European citizens.
Romanians in institutions
The accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the European Union generated a series of institutional changes at the level of the European institutions. Therefore, starting from 1 January 2007 Romania, like all other Member States, has the right to vote in the EU Council and its configurations. Romania is the seventh Member State of the Union in terms of its population. 14 votes are allocated to Romania in the Council of the EU.
On 1 January 2007, the Council also adopted the list of future rotating presidencies of the EU Council; Romania is due to hold this mandate in the period 1 July – 31 December 2019. At the same time, according to the Accession Treaty, Romania holds a number of positions in the Community institutions. Also, Romanian citizens have now the opportunity to work in the European institutions.
Details
Europe’s Future/Reform Treaty
Romania’s first steps as a Member of the European Union also mean participating in the debate on the future of the Union/the Treaty reform process. On the 13th of December 2007, the heads of state/government signed, in Lisbon, the Reform Treaty, from now on the Lisbon Treaty. The ratification process of this Treaty by the Member States is ongoing.
The Reform Treaty was drawn up according to the mandate established for this purpose at the meeting of the European Council of June 21-23, 2007. Even from the beginning, Romania has associated to the substance of the debates on this theme, being aware of the importance of this subject for the future development of the Union and of the way in which the latter shall continue to respond to the expectations of the European citizens, including the Romanian ones.
In the debates on Europe’s future, an important step was the process of drafting and adopting the Berlin Declaration to mark 50 years of the Treaty of Rome, adopted on March 25, 2007, by the 27 Member States and the European Union institutions. The document emphasizes the Union’s achievements over the 50 years and reaffirms the Member States’ solidarity regarding certain joint projects and objectives for the future.
Common Foreign and Security Policy
Romania already brings an important contribution to the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union, due not only to its association with and support of the common positions and declarations of the Union but also to its involvement in the E.U. military and police operations and the sharing of foreign policy experience.
Taking into account that, at the time of accession, the northern and eastern borders of Romania will become external frontiers of the European Union, Romania is preparing to contribute to the consolidation of the area of freedom, security and justice through the effective management of its external borders.
Useful Links
* European Union On-Line - http://europa.eu.int/
* Portal "Your Europe" - http://europa.eu.int/youreurope/
* Information Centre of the European Commission in Romania - http://www.infoeuropa.ro/
* Mission of Romania to the European Union - http://www.roumisue.org/
* Romanian Ministry of European Integration - http://www.mie.ro/
* Romanian Information Center in Brussels - http://www.roinfocentre.be/
* European Institute of Romania - http://www.ier.ro/
* Presidency of the European Union - http://www.eu2006.pt/
* EUObserver - http://www.euobserver.com
* EurActiv - http://www.euractiv.com/ |
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