PM Ciolacu Nominates Roxana Mînzatu as Romania’s EU Commissioner

Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced that the proposal for the position of European Commissioner from Romania to the European executive is Roxana Mînzatu. He added that this is the “right person” for the job. Our country will have “a relevant portfolio”, the head of government also stated, when asked what portfolio Romania will have.

“After the meeting with the parliamentary groups, I had several telephone discussions, now I will go to the Government and make the nomination for the future European Commissioner, in the person of Mrs. Roxana Mînzatu, and in the following period I will continue the discussions with the President of the Commission, in order to close the portfolio . (…) It is a relevant portfolio that Romania will represent. Madam President does not appoint a commissioner until she has an interview with that person, nomination. This interview took place on Sunday between Mrs. Roxana Mînzatu and the president of the Commission, for an hour and a half. “Definitely, afterwards the lady president only had words of praise”, declared Ciolacu, in a press conference.

Asked about a possible connection between the reduction of the deficit and the proposal of a woman to the position of European commissioner, the prime minister replied: “I think that’s the last thing I would consider, whether it’s a man or a woman, or having the discussion about the capacity of a person to be a commissioner or not, if he is female or male”.

The Head of the Government emphasized that the discussions with Ursula von er Leyen are on the topic of the portfolio, and those related to the deficit have been concluded and carried on a month or so ago.

“We still have some obligations that the Romanian state must respect towards the Commission, Romania’s next deficit will enter a trajectory of deficit reduction for the next 7 years”, explained Ciolacu.

Earlier in the morning, PM Ciolacu  had declared that he would discuss on Monday with the current and future president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, about Romania’s commissioner proposal and specified that Roxana Mînzatu is a possible option in this regard.

“After the government meeting, I will have a discussion with the head of the European Commission, said Ciolacu. Monday’s government meeting was scheduled to start at 09:00. After the discussion with von der Leyen I will send the commissioner proposal,” said the prime minister.