BUCHAREST, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The budget allocated to the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) will stand between 60 and 80 million euros (68.6-91.5 million U.S. dollars), and many of the events will seek to highlight the country's pros, Minister Delegate for European Affairs George Ciamba told a press conference on Monday.
According to the official, it is a rational budget, considering that this is the first time that Romania holds the Presidency.
"It is also a rational budget when referenced to the ambitious agenda we envisage; the number of meetings [planned] at various levels is more ambitious than the previous Presidency," Ciamba said, adding that the country will host some 288 meetings.
Ciamba told the media that many of the events organized during the country's first EU Presidency "will seek to highlight the country's pros, the comparative edge of Romania."
The precise budget allocated to the Romania's EU Presidency will be known only at the end of the term, stressed the minister delegate.
Romania holds the mandate of President of the Council of the EU for the first half of the new year. It is the first time for Romania to take over the rotating EU presidency since it joined the EU on Jan. 1, 2007, with the motto "Cohesion, a common European value.
The opening ceremony of Romania's EU presidency is scheduled for Jan. 10, when the College of Commissioners and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will be in Bucharest.
