First Vice-President Frans Timmermans holds a cross-border Citizens' Dialogue with Bulgarian and Romanian citizens

Met dank overgenomen van Europese Commissie (EC) i, gepubliceerd op woensdag 3 juni 2015.

On 4-5 June 2015, the European Commission's First Vice-President Frans Timmermans i will visit Bulgaria and Romania. On 4 June 2015 he will exchange views with 750 Bulgarian and Romanian citizens in a cross-border citizens' dialogue in the Danube town of Ruse, Bulgaria, together with the President of Bulgaria, Rosen Plevneliev and the Romanian Minister of Justice, Robert Cazanciuc.

First Vice-President Timmermans said ahead of the Citizens' Dialogue: "it is no secret that many people in our Member States don't understand what happens in Brussels and don't feel their views are heard. Dialogues like this provide a great opportunity for people to give their opinion for us to understand better what needs to be done to improve their daily lives. I am looking forward to hearing from the people of Bulgaria and Romania and discussing their ideas for making the Union work better together."

The First Vice-President will exchange views with the citizens of the two countries on a wide range of issues in which the EU policies directly impact people's lives. The topics expected to be covered include EU funds, the European Investment Plan, the single currency and the single banking supervision mechanism, the rule of law, the Schengen area and Roma integration.

Citizens can attend the debate in person, by registering in advance here and can also participate and comment online during the event via the following website: http://ec.europa.eu/citizens-dialogues/index_en.htm

Alternatively, comments can be submitted using the Twitter hashtag #EUdialogues.

Prior to the event, on 4 June, First Vice-President Timmermans will meet the Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Rumyana Bachvarova and Minister of Justice Hristo Ivanov.

On 5 June 2015, he travels to Romania for meetings with President Klaus Iohannis, Prime Minister Victor Ponta and Members of the EU Affairs committees of the Romanian Parliament.

First Vice-President Timmermans will also meet representatives of judicial bodies and organisations involved in discussions on the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM).

Background

The concept of Citizens' Dialogues builds on the model of "town hall meetings" or local fora during which politicians listen and debate with citizens about policies and decisions being taken.

For More Information

The Citizens' Dialogue will be web streamed on 4 June 2015 by EbS at 15:30 CET and will be followed by a press conference.

A press conference after the visit in Romania will take place on 5 June 2014 at 15:00, at the European Commission Representation in Bucharest.

Citizens' Dialogues website: http://ec.europa.eu/citizens-dialogues/

Press contacts

Natasha BERTAUD, Spokesperson for Better Regulation, Interinstitutional Affaires (+32 2 296 74 56)

Tim McPHIE, Press Officer for Better Regulation, Interinstitutional Affaires (+32 229-58602)

Peter PETROV, Press Officer, EC Representation in Bulgaria (+359 887 200 717)

Mihai ROSIORU, Press Officer, EC Representation in Romania (+40 724 232 197)

IP/15/5105

General public inquiries:

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