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12. 06. 12. - 15:00

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12. 06. 12. - 15:00

Ponta says he doesn’t want a conflict with the president

Michael Leidig

Before addressing Parliament on EU matters later on today (Tues), premier Victor Ponta said that is not in Romania’s favour to have a conflict between the president and the head of the government.

"My proposition is of collaboration, not of conflict", Ponta said from Victoria Palace.

The Premier said that he will present a point of view of the Government regarding national interest matters such as the Verification and Cooperation Mechanism on Justice, the Schengen accession, the EU funds absorption capacity and the EU’s new Fiscal Treaty.

As regards the representation of Romania to the upcoming European Council, the PM said that the president and the head of the government should split their attributions. "This is what the Constitution says, it not about excluding someone, but it’s about respecting the prerogatives of the president and the PM according to the Constitution", the premier said.

Victor Ponta and Traian Basescu are fighting over who should participate at the European Council on 28 June. The PM argues he should go, as the decisions taken at the Council are negotiated between governments and implemented by his Cabinet, while the president argues that the foreign relations are his prerogatives.

Ponta also says that EU matters are not foreign matters but domestic, as they are part of the domestic legislation and regulations. The PM asked the Parliament  to rule over who should represent Romania at the EU Summits from now on with a decision expected later on tonight.

Since 2008, Basescu was the only one to represent Romania at EU Summits, as the former PM Emil Boc willingly gave up part of his executive powers to the president.

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