Accession to the Schengen area (short presentation)
It is sad and outrageous that we get to vote on another resolution to strengthen this Parliament's position that Romania must enter Schengen. Romania deserves to join Schengen. Romania has the legal right, according to the treaties, to be in Schengen. It is not only immoral, but also against the treaties of the European Union, for European citizens to be discriminated against and deprived of a rig
ROSpeech
Iran’s unprecedented attack against Israel, the need for de-escalation and an EU response (debate)
Mr President, Iran's attack on Israel is a reprehensible act of aggression, which, together with the Hamas crimes, the hostage-taking and then Israel's intervention in Gaza, is igniting a new hotspot on the world map. The European Union must do everything in its power to avoid the escalation of this conflict, because a new front there will not only increase the number of human victims, but will pl
ROSpeech
Conclusions of the recent European Council meetings, in particular on a new European Competitiveness deal and the EU strategic agenda 2024-2029 (debate)
Madam President, the European Union, in order to cope with the competitive pressure of China and the United States, needs investment in an economy that is designed on a European scale. In order to be competitive outside, we must learn to cooperate inside. We have seen how the European energy security, but also the re-introduction on the agenda of the topic of the enlargement of the Union to the Ea
ROSpeech
Return of Romanian national treasure illegally appropriated by Russia (debate)
Madam President, dear colleagues, this debate about the theft of Romania's national treasure shows very clearly what historical traumas Romanian citizens have experienced, but also the other citizens of Eastern Europe in Russia's neighbourhood. And this I hope will contribute to a better understanding in Western Europe of how totalitarian regimes in the Kremlin, throughout history, have looted and
ROSpeech
Deepening EU integration in view of future enlargement (debate)
Mr President, the European Union has become stronger after every enlargement. All the states that have integrated into the European Union have developed economically in an accelerated manner after accession, and we want the same with the countries of the Western Balkans, and with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, who expect the same perspectives from us. But for this, the future enlargement mus
ROSpeech
This is Europe - Debate with the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis (debate)
Madam President, Mr President, the 2024 election year is crucial for Europe, because the values on which it has been built and worked so far are under siege of extremism, anti-Europeanism and disinformation. This is why, in order to keep democracy alive, this year's debates must be relevant to the daily lives of citizens and less to the survival of political parties or political leaders. For Roman
ROSpeech
Empowering farmers and rural communities - a dialogue towards sustainable and fairly rewarded EU agriculture (debate)
Madam President, in recent weeks, farmers are taking to the streets in many European countries because they have lost patience. The causes are known: the energy and post-pandemic crisis, the war in Ukraine and the impact on farmers, green policies without calibration of economic impact in agriculture. But how do we get out of this situation? How do we align European ambitions with the adaptive cap
ROSpeech
Improving the socio-economic situation of farmers and rural areas, ensuring fair incomes, food security as well as a just transition (debate)
Madam President, first of all, I want to address the bona fide farmers and transporters in Romania, but also throughout the Union, who are protesting these days. Your requests are justified and justified, whether they are related to national or European decisions. Through its inaction, the Commission risks blowing up a justified approach, linked to the Union's climate ambitions, but implemented su
ROSpeech
30 years of Copenhagen criteria - giving further impetus to EU enlargement policy (debate)
Mr President, I believe that there is no better opportunity to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the definition of the Copenhagen criteria than with a clear decision by the Council to start EU accession negotiations with Moldova and Ukraine, with a clear perspective for the Western Balkans. It is also an opportune moment to put on the table a new vision for the European enlargement policy, facing
ROSpeech
This is Europe - Debate with the Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Nikolay Denkov (debate)
Madam President, Prime Minister, we are together, Romanians and Bulgarians, trapped by Austrian Chancellor Nehammer on the Schengen issue, and I know that you are making great diplomatic efforts to unblock both Austria's veto and last year's Dutch reserves. I'd have two questions for you. When I led the Romanian government, I worked very closely on the issue of visa-free travel for Canada with the
Madam President, the European Commission's recommendation to start accession negotiations with Moldova and Ukraine is a decision of great impact in the region, both politically and economically. I hope that the Member States will also take a swift decision and validate this Commission recommendation so that the actual negotiations with Moldova and Ukraine can start before next spring. The start of
Madam President, we need a strategy to boost protein production. We do indeed have a protein deficit in the European Union, especially vegetable protein for animal nutrition. There are already innovative technologies on the market for protein production in general and I support research in this direction, including European Union funding for research in the field, but the introduction of insects a
Mr. President, first of all I would like to address the citizens of the Republic of Moldova. I know that many of them are looking at what is happening in Parliament today. Beyond the discussions we have here about administrative procedures, political positions to bring the Republic of Moldova to the European Union, it is important that the EU accession process be felt positively by the citizens of
ROSpeech
Parliamentarism, European citizenship and democracy (debate)
Mr President, the Conference on the Future of Europe was meant to open up to citizens, which we remember every five years when we have elections. More ideas came from there, from the citizens. Now, we must also put them into practice, because it is important to streamline the relationship between citizens and decision-makers in democracy. Otherwise, we risk European democracy eroding over time and
ROQuestion
Parliamentarism, European citizenship and democracy (debate)
Mr President, I would like to ask Mrs Kempa how she sees the Polish nation-state in the European Union: with or without free movement of citizens? With or without the free movement of goods and capital? Schengen or non-Schengen and again border controls? With or without the right of young people to study in other countries of the European Union? How? How do you want to reconcile and complete self-
Madam President, dear colleagues, I have listened carefully to the presentation of the state of the Union with the achievements and I agree with many of the priorities, but let us not pretend that we do not see the elephant in the room. The blocking of the Schengen area for Romania and Bulgaria, in violation of the treaties, is not a secondary issue. As a Romanian, I do not see how we can advance
ROSpeech
Ukrainian grain exports after Russia’s exit from the Black Sea Grain Initiative (debate)
Madam President, Commissioner, in the spring we warned the Commission that if it does not think about measures in the medium term, in the autumn we will again have problems with the transit of grain from Ukraine. That's where we are today. Romanian farmers announce that they are taking to the streets again. Ukrainians cannot sell their grain because they do not have reliable transport alternatives
ROSpeech
Delivering on the Green Deal: risk of compromising the EU path to the green transition and its international commitments (debate)
Madam President, Mr Executive Vice-President, the European Parliament has supported the Green Deal since the beginning of the mandate, because we cannot put our heads in the sand and ignore the environmental problems that we now have and that affect not only our quality of life, but also our economics. But we need a realistic approach so that we don't fall into ideology with these discussions. Thi
ROSpeech
Ensuring food security and the long-term resilience of EU agriculture (debate)
Mr President, Commissioner, successive crises and the challenges of our society have shown the strategic importance of agriculture. Food and the environment are elements of security and strategic autonomy for the Union. We have seen in recent years, and especially in recent months, how the attempt to legislate separately, and even antagonismally, in the field of agriculture, the environment, healt
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Lebanon is going through a series of crises which are endangering stability and democracy in that country. A political crisis, a financial and banking crisis, an energy crisis and, above all, a crisis of confidence reinforced by the feeling of impunity surrounding the explosion of the port of Beirut. An independent judiciary must be the priority of any new presi
ENSpeech
Humanitarian and environmental consequences of the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam - Sustainable reconstruction and integration of Ukraine into the Euro-Atlantic community (debate)
Mr President, Ms Minister, Mr Vice-President, we should be aware that the reconstruction of Ukraine means in the meantime the preparation for accession of this country to the European Union. And this reconstruction means, of course, investment in a lot of infrastructure. But let’s not forget some key economic sectors of Ukraine, and the agrifood sector is one of these. We will need to help Ukraine
Mr Uhrík, can you please ask your national authority in charge of food safety and phytosanitary to check the cereals? Because this is his responsibility to enforce European legislation, putting some norms on the import of any products on the European market? So please, first of all, ask your national authority to do this work and not to punish the European Union for imaginative fault.
Madam President, Commissioner, Romanians have welcomed Ukrainian refugees with open arms, and Romania has made its ports available to Ukraine for the export of grain. It is absolutely necessary to continue to support Ukraine, but we also need to take care of European farmers in the states bordering Ukraine. The difficulties they face are not a regional problem, but a European one, and the solution
ROSpeech
The role of farmers as enablers of the green transition and a resilient agricultural sector (continuation of debate)
Mr President, Commissioner, European farmers must continue to be able to produce quality, affordable and healthy food, but at the same time live off what they produce and also withstand the pressure on the market caused by Russia's aggression in Ukraine. That is why we need, now more than ever, vision, coherence and realism when we make legislative proposals and take decisions at European level. T
ROSpeech
The challenges facing the Republic of Moldova (debate)
Mr President, dear colleagues, you are politicians, some of you have held positions in the government of your state and you know what challenges exist even in times of peace and in prosperous countries. Now imagine that you are politically managing a small country, for decades under the influence of Russia, which has a border with Ukraine at war and Russian soldiers illegally on its territory. Tha