November 12 (SeeNews) - Romania's EU affairs minister Victor Negrescu has resigned, the government said on Monday, less than two months before the country assumes the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU from the start of next year.
A replacement for Negrescu will be nominated shortly, the government said in a press release without giving reasons for Negrescu's resignation.
The nomination of a new EU affairs minister must be endorsed by Romanian president Klaus Iohannis.
Rumors about Negrescu's resignation emerged on Sunday, when he also said in a Facebook post that he did not know what is happening and that he is ready for a new week at work. Negrescu also said that he will discuss the issue with his colleagues from the ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD).
"On Friday, I left everything prepared for the next week of work. My desire is that our projects at the ministry will continue. Romania must proceed on its European road," Negrescu said in the Facebook post.
Romania's EU funds minister Rovana Plumb confirmed Negrescu's resignation on TV station Digi 24 on Monday.
"From what I understand, this resignation has occurred," Plumb said.
The EU affairs ministry is primarily responsible for ensuring Romania's successful EU presidency in the first half of 2019.