The Diplomat
Senior Spanish government officials told a delegation from the Romanian Senate’s European Affairs Committee this week that Spain will support Romania’s bid to join the Schengen area of free movement during its EU Presidency.
The Romanian parliamentary delegation, which was headed by the Chairman of the Senate’s European Affairs Committee, President Vasile Dîncu, and accompanied by the Romanian Ambassador in Madrid, George Bologan, visited the Presidency of the Government and the Ministry of the Presidency, Relations with Parliament and Democratic Memory.
In the latter department, the members of the delegation were received by the undersecretary, Alberto Herrera Rodríguez, whom they thanked for the efforts of the Spanish government in getting the agreement approved in Parliament on 26 April last, which will give all religious cults the same tax treatment in Spain. With this measure, the Romanian Orthodox Church in the Kingdom of Spain will enjoy the same tax benefits recognised to other religious entities by the host state.
At Moncloa, the delegation met with the Director of the Coordination Department of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU, Aurora Mejía, to whom the President of the Commission praised Spain’s sincere support for Romania at all levels and expressed his wishes for the success of the Spanish Presidency of the EU in the second half of this year, during which, he said, Bucharest will cooperate closely with Madrid to address the main topical issues affecting our daily lives.
Aurora Mejía, for her part, presented the Presidency’s objectives, expressing Spain’s firm support for one of the issues of greatest interest to Romania, Romania’s interest in relations with Latin America was also valued, through the recent visit of President Klaus Iohannis to Brazil, Chile and Argentina, given the importance and potential of this area for relations with the EU.
The delegation, composed of Robert Cazanciuc, Member of the Commission and Vice-President of the Romanian Senate, Cristian Ghica, Vice-President of the European Affairs Committee, and Vlad Pufu, Secretary of the Commission, also visited the Spanish Senate. There, the members of the delegation were received by the Vice-President of the Upper House, Cristina Narbona.
According to a note from the Romanian Embassy, the meeting highlighted the many common positions shared by Romania and Spain on the European agenda, such as relations with Latin America, the importance and potential of this area for relations with the EU, support for dual nationality, as well as Spanish backing for Schengen membership and European unity in the face of the war provoked by Russia in Ukraine.
They also discussed the bilateral Romanian-Spanish relationship, with special attention to the good integration of the Romanian community in Spain and the relationship between the two Houses of Parliament.
The parliamentary delegation’s programme in Madrid ended with a visit to the EU Satellite Centre, where it was received by Ambassador Sorin Ducaru, Director of the Centre.
