Bucharest, Dec 14 /Rompres/ - Romanian President Traian Basescu told a press conference on Friday after the winter European Council that Romanians would be granted priority on EU's labour market, ahead of other non-EU members. Basescu said that the European Council decided the preference regarding the labour force.

President Basescu said that pilot-programmes for labour force absorption have been set for non-EU members, mainly for Republic of Moldova and Republic of Cape Verde. Romania backed the candidature of Republic of Moldova and Portugal backed that of Cape Verde.

'The next step is for the two states to conclude agreements with EU, as the legality of labour force use is the first criterion. We hope they'll be offered similar terms as Romania,' said Basescu.

He said that the Winter Council addressed the issue of Roma minority, showing that the European Commission must draw up a report on this minority in EU before the June Summit.

'It is not only about the Roma community from Romania, but from the entire EU territory, so that a Roma inclusion programme may be drawn up, financed and implemented,' said the President.

The head of state said that the participants in the European Winter Council also spoke about the European dimension of the maritime policy. At Romania's initiative, the participants agreed that the maritime policy should not be based solely on EU concepts, but to include the regional dimension, too, said Basescu.

President Traian Basescu also said that, following the requests made by Romania, the Council of Europe decided to create a stability force in the region before making a decision on the status of the province of Kosovo in January 2008.

'I think I have had a constructive European position, which is also in the national interest of Romania. Romania has said very clearly that, as long as there is no UN resolution and no one observes the international law, especially the concept of territorial integrity, of border inviolability, it cannot recognize Kosovo,' added the Head of State.

He made it clear that it was not easy to Romania to be in this position but it was a position in the national interest and, at the same time, our capacity as members of the European Union compels us to solidarity with our European partners.

Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu announced that the Romanian Government next week will start preparations for the drawing up of a draft for the ratification of the EU Reform Treaty, so that Romania may be among the first EU member states to ratify the treaty in 2008.

The EU Reform Treaty was signed on Thursday, in Lisbon, and it was the first Treaty of the European Union Romania signed as a full member of the EU.