BUCHAREST, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Romania's Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu said Tuesday that the main priority of his cabinet in Brexit talks is for the UK pulling out of the European Union (EU) to have the least effect on Romanians in Britain.
The prime minister made the statement at the first meeting of the country's Brexit Interministerial Council.
"Our number one priority is for the process to have the least possible impact on Romanians living, working or studying in the UK, because their rights have to be protected and negotiations to this end will have to be conducted teamed up with the European Commission," said Grindeanu.
Actually, the Bucharest authorities have repeatedly reiterated that the acquired rights of Romanian nationals in UK must be guaranteed after the Brexit.
When referring to the future of bilateral relations, the prime minister told the meeting of Brexit Interministerial Council that Romania will remain UK's "friend and ally," irrespective of the UK's future place, whether inside or outside the EU.
According to Grindeanu, the meeting was convened because the European Council on this Saturday will adopt guidelines for the European Commission's mandate in the negotiations between the EU and the UK.
The prime minister also mentioned other two directions Romania should follow in the Brexit negotiations: preserving the budgets for the cohesion policy and the common agricultural policy in the financial framework 2014-2020.
The Romanian government set up last month the inter-ministerial Council for Brexit to provide policy guidelines to define Romania's stands. This Council that comprises several ministries is chaired by the prime minister and coordinated by the Minister delegate for European affairs.
