EU Council chief travels to Romania for talks on agenda for future with other bloc leaders

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — European Council President Charles Michel traveled to Romania’s capital on Wednesday for talks with several European Union country leaders on the bloc’s so-called strategic agenda to address goals for the next five-year period.

Michel arrived in Bucharest at the presidential Cotroceni Palace where he was hosted by Romanian President Klaus Iohannis. The informal meetings, which are periodically held in different EU capitals, come ahead of the June 6-9 elections for the European Parliament.

Michel said in a joint press conference that the 27-nation bloc has in recent years faced an “extraordinarily difficult” period of challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate and energy crises, and Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

Over the next five years, he said the EU will focus on bolstering security and defense, increasing economic stability and prosperity, bloc enlargement, and strengthening the democratic values that underpin the EU project. “Despite all the efforts in the past, there are still a lot of challenges ahead,” Michel said.

“The goal is to make sure the European countries are more responsible to address the security challenges and to take into account the threats we face,” he added. “Investments in that field are important.”

For his part, Iohannis also cited the series of crises the EU has faced in recent years including the energy crisis, the effects of climate change, illegal migration, and the war in neighboring Ukraine.

“Major challenges await us, but we also have the lessons learned from the last five extremely difficult years, in which the (EU) has proven that it is resilient, adaptable and capable of protecting its citizens,” said Iohannis, who announced his bid last month to become the next leader of NATO.

“We must remain committed to making every effort together to protect our values, the European spirit and the hard-won democracy in some member states,” he added.

The two leaders were later joined by Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, Croatia’s Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

European Council President Charles Michel walks with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis before a press conference at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)

European Council President Charles Michel, left, poses with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, center, and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)

European Council President Charles Michel gestures during a press conference with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrives for a meeting with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)

European Council President Charles Michel, left, poses with Croatia's Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, center, and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)

European Council President Charles Michel gestures during a press conference with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)

ROME (AP) — King Charles III arrived in Rome on Monday for a state visit to Italy on his first overseas trip since being briefly hospitalized for side effects of cancer treatment.

Charles is traveling with Queen Camilla on the three-day visit, which includes the first address to the Italian Parliament of a British monarch, visits with the Italian president and premier and a side trip to Ravenna to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Adriatic city’s liberation by Allied forces.

A planned meeting with Pope Francis was postponed by mutual agreement due to the pope’s bout with double pneumonia. The 88-year-old pontiff returned to the Vatican two weeks ago, and made a surprise appearance to the faithful in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday.

Charles, 76, was briefly hospitalized March 27 due to “temporary side effects” from treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer diagnosed more than a year ago. The king appeared the next day, waving to well-wishers in central London, and has since resumed scheduled engagements.

In Rome, Charles will highlight the close links between Britain and Italy, two NATO allies, at a time when European nations are working to bolster support for Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression. The visit will include a joint flyover of Rome’s historic center by the Italian Air Force aerobatic team, Frecce Tricolori, or Tricolor Arrows, and their Royal Air Force counterparts, the Red Arrows.

The king and queen will attend a reception in Ravenna, in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, to mark the 80th anniversary of the region’s liberation from the Nazis by Allied forces on April 10, 1945. The royals will also celebrate the cuisine of the Emilia-Romagna region and meet with local farmers whose fields were devastated by floods that recently hit the area.

King Charles III, right, and Queen Camilla arrive at Rome's International Airport G.B. Pastine in Ciampino for a four-day official visit to Italy, Monday, April 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

King Charles III, right, and Queen Camilla, not visible, arrive at Rome's International Airport G.B. Pastine in Ciampino for a four-day official visit to Italy, Monday, April 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

King Charles III waives upon arrival at Rome's International Airport G.B. Pastine in Ciampino for a four-day official visit to Italy, Monday, April 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

King Charles III, right, and Queen Camilla arrive at Rome's International Airport G.B. Pastine in Ciampino for a four-day official visit, Monday, April 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

King Charles III, right, and Queen Camilla arrive at Rome's International Airport G.B. Pastine in Ciampino for a four-day official visit, Monday, April 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

King Charles III, right, and Queen Camilla arrive at Rome's Iternational Airport G.B. Pastine in Ciampino, for a four-day official visit, Monday, April 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

King Charles III, right, and Queen Camilla arrive at Rome's International Airport G.B. Pastine in Ciampino for a four-day official visit, Monday, April 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)