Experts’ meeting on the contribution of different categories of European citizens to the development of the host country - Hoofdinhoud

During the 3th and 5th of May, the city of Bacău has hosted an experts’ meeting dedicated to diaspora in the EU i and its contribution to the development of the host countries. It was the third event during the Romanian Presidency that was focused on diaspora and organized by the Ministry for Romanians Abroad (MRP).

Capitalizing the cultural, economic, social and educational contributions that Romanian citizens, as well as citizens from other EU countries with large diasporas, have had on the development of different European countries and the exchange of best practices among European experts were the focus of the debates held at Bacău Business and Exhibition Center and at the headquarters of the County Council, with support from the local authorities.

MRP state secretary Lilla Debelka and undersecretary Victor Ionescu presented the priorities of the Romanian Presidency i at the Council of the European Union i as well as the conclusions of the previous two events organized by the Ministry. The agenda also included exchange of good practices among European experts, as well as on public policies through which different categories of EU citizens are encouraged to develop successful actions in the host countries.

“We’ve seen a great interest from Governments of various EU countries regarding policies and means aimed at assisting their respective citizens who live, work, study in other EU states. Our Ministry is fully committed to this goal and I have no doubt that along with our partners we will find common strategies and solutions to the benefit of our respective diasporas”, state secretary Lilla Debelka said.

„This meeting was a very good opportunity to exchange views and good practices at EU level regarding diaspora and its contributions at economic, cultural and educational level. Our Ministry’s focus was to bring diaspora on the European agenda and to create an opportunity for European co-operation for diaspora policies. I hope that such meetings generated ideas and debates that would lead to successful projects and initiatives to the benefit of Romanians abroad and to the benefit of all EU citizens”, undersecretary Victor Ionescu pointed out.

The event in Bacău was the second experts meeting and the third event that MRP had organized during Romania’s Presidency at the Council of the European Union. The meeting was attended by experts from EU states, representatives of the Romanian Parliament, local authorities and academics.