Reprezentanţa Comisiei Europene în România, 11 ianuarie 2011, ora 10.00 Excellency, Dear guests, Let me start by wishing Hungary good luck in the challenging task of holding the rotating Presidency of the EU Council. As a strategic partner, Romania will support most warmly the Hungarian Presidency. The Hungarian Presidency marks the end of a stage: the conclusion of the 18-months trio formed together with Spain and Belgium. This was not an uneventful period. During the last year, we faced serious challenges, as the Union was confronted with an unprecedented economic crisis. While acknowledging these difficulties, we also have to see the latest European developments in more optimistic terms. The EU has once more proved adaptable and able to face unexpected difficulties. The Lisbon Treaty has offered a new institutional framework, useful in critical moments. The Hungarian Presidency will have the advantage of working in this institutional setting, which has already been tested in the past year. I also wish to congratulate Hungary for its programme. I believe that it places the right emphasis when it includes among its main priorities both Europe's economic growth and its standing in the world. We cannot have the one without the other. The Hungarian presidency will also promote on the European agenda a number of issues of special significance to our region, which Romania is happy and eager to support. Speaking about EU's leadership, 2011 will be the year of Central and Eastern Europe, as Poland is also preparing to assume the rotating EU Presidency in the second semester. This offers us an important chance to advance a set of objectives of major interest for our countries, and to reinforce Europe's identity, according to the new Presidency's motto: "Strong Europe with a human touch". One of these important files on the agenda refers to the enlargement of the Schengen ar