Romanian President: An approchement between Romania and the Visegrad Group is not realistic

„We do not share the same views, in my opinion at this moment, an approchement between Romania and the Visegrad group is not realistic, not to mention that within the Visegrad group there are basically two camps that are increasingly divergent with regards to the future of the European Union,and the way things go in the EU in general,” Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday.

During a ceremony for the launch of production of a new model at the Ford car factory in Craiova, South Romania, Iohannis said that statements made by various politicians on the issue were „simple populist texts”.

Romania’s minister of Foreign Affairs Teodor Melescanu participated at the ministerial meeting of the Visegrad Group (V4) with the Western Balkans at the invitation of the V4 (Hungary) Presidency in Budapest this week. Alongside Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Croatia were also invited. Estonia was also invited as a state holding the Presidency of the EU Council this semester.

Previously, Melescanu declared that Romania is interested in working with the Visegrad countries: „Romania is interested in working with the Visegrad countries. With Hungary taking over the presidency and addressing issues that are of interest to Romania, such as the Balkans, we obviously have been invited to participate. Generally, as a practice, we participate whenever there are subjects of interest for our country . ” Teodor Melescanu has said.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has recently launched an explicit invitation to Romania to join the group: „We will leave this door open,” the Budapest head of government said in an interview with the Bihari Naplo Hungarian newspaper in Oradea, quoted by the Hungarian press agency.