Speeches

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, in recent months, fire has turned almost one million hectares of agricultural land and forests in the European Union into ashes. In Spain, in just 10 days, the fire has consumed over 300,000 hectares. Portugal faces more than 180 000 hectares, while in Romania some crops could be 30% lower compared to last year due to drought and fires. We are not just talking about burnt land and forests, we are talking about destinies, families and our daily food. We need a European Union that responds with concrete actions, support for farmers and a stronger Common Agricultural Policy. Commissioner, we have heard little about what a European water reserve should be, which must be our shield against drought at the level of each Member State. This can only be done with the help of European funds. At the same time, we must understand that burnt forests mean irreparable losses for biodiversity and the future of future generations. Reconstruction must become a priority. Last but not least, in conclusion, I thank the European firefighters, including the Romanian ones, who went to support other Member States in the fight against the flames.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, the European Union has been built on the principles of solidarity and equality. Cohesion policy is intended to reduce disparities between regions on the basis of objective, economic and social needs, and not on any other basis. I have taken note of this initiative and, while respecting and upholding the principle of Europe's diversity, I do not believe that European funds can be allocated according to ethnic or identity criteria, because this, in my opinion, would lead to an isolation of these regions. Europe means unity in diversity. Regions need support to combat poverty, isolation or lack of infrastructure, regardless of language or religion. Cohesion policy must not be transformed into an instrument of fragmentation or the creation of privileged regions where membership of a particular minority outweighs the real needs of the population. National minorities, without question, need a legal framework that allows the preservation of traditional, cultural and identity values. And I am glad that today my country, Romania, is an example of good practice at international level. Guaranteed education in the language of national minorities, access to decision-making fora, including at governmental but also regional level are just a few examples. But first of all, Commissioner, we have to say one thing very clearly. We need a cohesion policy that is not diluted into other policies. We need adequate funding for this cohesion policy so that we can support all regions of the European Union.

Madam President, Commissioner, the budget of the Common Agricultural Policy must remain separate, not diluted in other policies, let alone cut. To touch the CAP budget today is to weaken the backbone of the European Union. This policy is not about subsidies. It is about food, safety and the future of European villages. And today, these villages are slowly dying. 800 farms disappear every day, putting our food security at risk. Young farmers don't believe in us anymore. If we cut the budget, we will accelerate the abandonment of European agriculture, our villages becoming open-air museums, and we will import pesticide-filled food from third countries. I therefore ask you today, firmly, Commissioner, and unequivocally, that the CAP budget remain separate, with adequate and guaranteed funding post-2027. It is a red line, and whoever crosses this line assumes the beginning of the breakup of the European Union.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, in the last week, hundreds of hectares of agricultural land have been burned in Romania. Today, in the area of Marseille, firefighters are still battling the flames, and extreme drought is wreaking havoc across Europe. We are talking about a crisis that is no longer the exception. It's the new reality. European agriculture is on its knees and wildfires threaten lives, housing and essential infrastructure. We cannot leave the Member States alone to deal with a phenomenon that affects the whole of the European Union. We need a truly prepared Union, a coherent and sustainable European plan. This means urgent investments in reservoirs, irrigation systems, local reserves of water for firefighting, strengthening civil protection mechanisms and including the development of the network of volunteer firefighters. Solutions can't come too late. Lack of water clearly means lack of food, and lack of food means insecurity for every European citizen. And we don't need that.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the European agricultural sector is facing unprecedented challenges today. Severe droughts burn large parts of Europe, devastating floods destroy critical crops and infrastructure, and the pressure of inflation and the unfavourable effects of international trade agreements weigh heavily on farmers. The European Commission needs to understand one key thing: without adequate and consistent financing of the Common Agricultural Policy, we cannot talk about food security or rural stability. In this context, I am sending a clear signal: The budget of the Common Agricultural Policy must remain distinct and independent from other budget chapters. It cannot be merged with other policies, not even cohesion policy, which in turn must remain distinct. Farmers need predictability if we want stability for them. We cannot build the future of European agriculture with fragmented budgets and compromises. We need a long-term vision in which agriculture and regional development are the central pillars. Kissinger said: Who produces food...

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the European Parliament rightly calls for it to be respected. However, the reality, dear colleagues, is that the plant sector in the European Union cannot meet the need for protein feed for the Union’s animal husbandry. We therefore need to import more than 90% of the protein feed, which is genetically modified organisms, from Brazil and Argentina. Every kilogram of meat, every egg we eat is, in one form or another, produced with the help of these genetically modified feeds. The Union has a strategy to support farmers in protein production, but it appears to be insufficient. The real question is not why we import GM feed, but, Commissioner, why we do not produce it in the European Union as long as we consume it. I think it's time to get out of the hypocrisy zone. These products are considered safe from a human health point of view, according to EFSA, and European farmers should be left and, in my opinion, encouraged to cultivate them. Otherwise, we subject them to undeserved and deep unfair competition vis-à-vis third-country farmers.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, foot-and-mouth disease, mainly a disease of cows, is emerging after 35 years in Europe and is wreaking havoc in the livestock sector. The first outbreak was identified in Germany three months ago, and recently similar cases have been identified in Slovakia and Hungary, not far from the border with Romania. Farmers have already lost hundreds of millions of euros, either as a result of mortality or loss of income. The predictions are bleak, as the disease spreads at the speed of light. Farmers run the risk of being unable to save animals and those in the plant sector of no longer being able to sell their production. The Commission urgently needs to find mechanisms for compensating affected farmers. At the same time, the European executive must come up with adequate and effective public communication on the measures taken to prevent the disease, but also the identification of an effective vaccine, while developing a clear action plan established with the Member States. I draw attention to the fact that food security can be seriously affected by this disease, which acts as a real biological weapon.

Mr President, Commissioner, I congratulate you on the document presented. Colleagues, today we need to feed 450 million Europeans, while globally more than 700 million people are suffering from hunger. However, the figures in the sector are worrying. Income from agriculture is 40% lower than in any other sector, while only 12% of farmers are under 40 years old. Without firm action, Europe risks becoming dependent on imports, losing control over its own food security, and dependency creates vulnerabilities, as Mario Draghi put it. Time is no longer on our side, and tomorrow is already too late for farmers. Commissioner, today we need policies that protect European production, cut red tape, but above all - and I stress above all - adequate funding. The money for agriculture is not the money of farmers, but is the indispensable investment so that hunger is not used as a weapon of war. If we want a strong Europe, we need to make sure that it is also fed, and this starts with supporting our farmers.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the debate on the Mercosur agreement stirs up many emotions and raises questions to which no clear answers have yet been given. The reality, however, is that while European farmers are subject to the strictest environmental rules, in other parts of the world these rules simply do not exist. Europe has a duty to protect its farmers and provide them with strong guarantees so that they can continue to operate. They must not be sacrificed on the altar of our inability to provide them with certainty in such an uncertain world, generated by inflation, drought, floods or the war in Ukraine. They don't ask for privileges or preferential treatment. I'm just asking for the right to compete fairly. The compensation provisioned for farmers must be matched by the relaxation of production conditions in agriculture, Commissioner, and the agreement must be fair, create real trade opportunities and not destroy European agriculture. It is our duty to find the best solutions for both European farmers and consumers.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, desertification is a reality that cannot be challenged, and this was emphasised at COP 16. According to official data, desertification generates global costs of over €300 billion and affects more than 1.5 billion people, increasing migratory pressures and fuelling resource wars. The Union loses EUR 74 billion annually due to land degradation and inaction will reduce crop yields by at least 10% by 2050, creating a shortage for both water and food. Romania, my country, is fully confronted with these phenomena. We urgently need courageous action, which not only prevents this phenomenon, but even reverses it in the long term. To protect our food security, we need to invest in innovative technologies and solutions, such as new genomic techniques in sustainable water management and the development of smart irrigation systems at affordable prices for all farmers, and I stress this: affordable for all farmers. At the same time, efficient use of wastewater, especially around large urban centres, and serious investments in desalination of marine water are required, all of which must become a strategic priority and an obligation to our citizens. Private sector investment needs to be encouraged and the Commission needs to ensure that Member States use money for afforestation and forest curtains efficiently and quickly. Europe has solutions at its disposal, but without targeted investment and adequate funding, it will not be able to meet these challenges. Dear colleagues, the choice is ours: Act now or future generations will suffer the consequences of our destructible immobilism.

Mr President, Europe is at a demographic crossroads. The statistics speak for themselves. By 2050, almost 30% of the European population will be over 65 and the workforce will shrink by more than 57 million people by 2100. The share of the population of the European Union in the total global population will fall from 6% to 4%, reflecting an alarming drop in birth rates. Rural areas are experiencing this decline the most. Their depopulation poses direct risks to food security. We need to act now, investing in the future of young people and creating the conditions for them to stay at home. Affordable housing, quality education and well-paid jobs – and here I stress, well-paid jobs – are just some of the lines of action. Demographic change works and affects the regions of the European Union differently. In Romania, for example, over 4.5 million people have left abroad. Also, while in southern Italy or Spain houses are sold for one euro, other regions are facing an acute housing crisis. This is why we need to act differently, tailoring policies to local needs. Smart migration management is becoming a priority. We need a skilled workforce to ensure the economic sustainability of the European Union. I appreciate the publication of the demography 2023 toolbox, but Commissioner, without adequate funding, even the best policies will not have the desired impact. Funds such as the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the European Social Fund Plus must become the pillars of this effort. Dear colleagues, Europe is ageing. Our future should not be a burden to others.

Mr President, Commissioner, in the first debate here in the plenary of the European Parliament, the agricultural world is looking at you with great hope, convinced that you will make the best decisions for the sector, and I personally believe that. Colleagues, only 4% of European Union citizens are engaged in agriculture, yet they provide food for the other 96% of European citizens. We can thus see the extent of farmers' responsibility. Behind every product stands the work of farmers and sacrifices, and the reality is harsh. Every two days, a farmer in France commits suicide, and every life lost is a tragedy for all of us. Thousands of farmers face economic difficulties due to low prices and high production costs. Only 11% of farmers are under 40, and long working hours and harsh conditions profoundly affect their personal lives and mental health. These figures, colleagues, are not just statistics, they are real stories about families struggling to stay afloat, who want conditions to prosper and raise their children with dignity. That's why they put their hopes in us. Commissioner, farmers need solutions that mean stable prices to reduce market volatility, modernisation of agriculture through advanced technologies, programmes for young farmers with access to land and training. I am absolutely convinced that by adequately financing the sector - and here I stress, adequately financing the sector - and adopting coherent policies, the sector will continue to remain resilient, which also means guaranteeing the mental health of farmers.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, today Russia is not coming with tanks in front of us, but it is infiltrating lies into the phones and minds of our citizens. This is the reality of modern warfare. Algorithms are turned into weapons, and the manipulation of emotions and perceptions becomes a standard technique. We must understand that manipulation and disinformation carried out through platforms such as TikTok are not isolated incidents, but are deliberate and insidious strategies to undermine democratic processes. However, it is not enough to identify the problem, we must act. Digital education must become a priority, as well as sanctioning disinformation campaigns funded by Russia and China. Russia wants to confuse the European Union and weaken citizens' trust in state institutions and fragment society. We must not give them this victory. I draw your attention to the fact that today it is about Romania, but tomorrow it may be about another country. It is about Europe, about the freedom and the future of our democracies. In the face of this attack we must stand firm, united and cut the evil at its root.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, beyond the Budapest declaration, guaranteeing food security is undoubtedly a strategic objective for the whole of the European Union. In this respect, it is essential to build a European agricultural sector that is not only sustainable, but above all competitive. We need a strong common agricultural policy, strong co-financing and a stable, predictable and fair framework to enable farmers to face the economic and climate challenges, and the Green Deal needs to be adapted to the above. Farmers who are now on the streets are asking us for fair competition on both the domestic and global markets, so that their efforts are not undermined by the import of cheap products that do not meet the same quality or production standards, and this can and must be done. At the same time, we need measures to strengthen the position of farmers in the supply chain by guaranteeing them fair prices for their work. Europe can become a global leader in economic transformation, but this requires the courage to make the right decisions for the future and, above all, to secure the necessary funding for the sector.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, we are faced with a situation that a few years ago was unthinkable. The lack of rainfall, coupled with extremely high temperatures and over long periods, has led to extreme phenomena that go beyond the mere notion of drought. At the same time, rainfall in some states is comparable to Noah's biblical flood. These changes are profoundly affecting agriculture, which is failing to recover from one season to the next. At the same time, farmers are facing increasing challenges and the stability of the agricultural sector is being called into question. The Common Agricultural Policy was not designed to respond to such dynamic realities, nor to deal with consecutive crises. In Romania, this year, temperatures of over 40 degrees were constantly recorded, being the driest year since measurements are made, affecting about 2.5 million hectares. In Sicily, farmers suffered losses of EUR 2.7 billion, and in the Azores, drought led to a 70% reduction in agricultural production and examples can continue with Spain or other countries. The European Commission must understand that farmers cannot face these challenges alone. In this context, it must allocate funds to compensate for income losses, but also to be able to invest in modern irrigation infrastructure and use water efficiently, including regulating watercourses and creating storage capacities. It is essential that farmers have access to efficient insurance systems, but above all, Commissioner, that reliable credit mechanisms are created. Last but not least, I would like to ask the Commission what mechanisms and tools it has at its disposal to help farmers survive these extreme weather events now, when the crisis reserve seems to be insufficient. I want to ask you, Commissioner, whether you are considering bringing new money into agriculture, because we must not forget that without agriculture there is no food security, and without food security there is no future.

I understand your question and it is extremely important to understand, colleagues, that there is a need for a balanced intervention on what river courses mean, so that they can be regularised in order to prevent floods, on the one hand; on the other hand, these watercourses can be used for what is meant by the development of the irrigation system. However, I repeat, there is a need for balanced approaches on the part of all decision-makers, so that we can coexist, in good harmony, man and nature.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen colleagues, holding your mother until her last breath, trying to save her from the middle of the waters, is just one of the shocking stories in Romania, where at least seven people have lost their lives and many more are missing. Every death has its own story. Every loss leaves families destroyed, homeless, unsafe. In addition to the loss of life, local economies developed along rivers, such as, but not limited to, agricultural holdings, are heavily affected. Unfortunately, such situations have happened in many European countries and we must be aware that such phenomena tend to become a normality. We cannot restore lost lives, but we can offer hope to those who remain. The European Commission, through the Solidarity Fund and the Civil Protection Mechanism, must stand by Romania and every European state hit by the floods, so that essential services are quickly restored and life can return to normality. At the same time, the European Commission will have to develop, together with the Member States, comprehensive plans for the efficient management of watercourses, the regularisation of rivers and the construction of dams in flood-prone areas. However, the Member States alone cannot meet the costs of reconstruction, so I call on the European Commission to identify financial resources for both the increase in the Solidarity Fund and the investments to be made by the Member States.

Mr President, I believe that a balanced approach is needed and farmers are the most important fighters in what it means to protect the environment. Following a structured dialogue, if you will, between environmental activists and farmers, we will surely find the best solutions to guarantee food security at European Union level.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, today we are faced with a long series of debates on the future of European agriculture, and the document ‘Structured Dialogue for Agriculture’ is welcome and provides a solid basis for discussion. However, solutions need to be carefully considered. In assessing this document, ladies and gentlemen, and future agricultural policies, we must start from a fundamental principle: the need to ensure food security at European Union level. In this context, I would like to send a strong message to the European Commission. Commissioner, direct payments must remain a tool at the disposal of farmers, as they are a safety belt for them, without necessarily being conditional on achieving environmental objectives that are sometimes almost impossible to achieve. Second, any environmental responsibility imposed on farmers must be properly compensated. No farmer should be forced to do more with less. I also reject any subliminal message of stigmatisation of animal products. The European Commission, in my view, should recalibrate its discourse and promote a balanced diet that also includes animal products, not just a plant-based diet. At the same time, importantly, products imported from third countries must meet the same quality standards, because the import of products, foods containing substances prohibited in the European Union, seems to me to be deeply immoral for both farmers and consumers. Commissioner, I know that you are close to the agricultural sector because you were a member of the Committee on Agriculture. The message is very important. The CAP needs adequate funding to be able to put everyday food on the table.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen colleagues, Commissioner, cohesion policy is the cornerstone of the European Union, being the backbone of our collective solidarity and prosperity. The challenges we face today are major. The migration of people from Eastern Europe to the West, from rural to urban, is a reality that cannot be challenged. Only by investing in transport, school, health infrastructure, broadband internet, but above all by creating well-paid jobs, and here I emphasise, well-paid jobs, will we be able to reverse this phenomenon. We need to make every region a place that can be defined at home by every European citizen. Today, more than 80% of the investments made in various Member States are financed by European funds, and it is important to talk to our citizens about these investments so that they are aware of the benefits of belonging to the European Union. At the same time, we call on the Commission to leave the current cohesion policy funds untouched and to adequately finance this policy in the future financial framework. Thus, it seems to me inadmissible that cohesion money should be taken to cover other needs of the European Union. We must understand that we cannot have a strong European Union without strong regions, and this requires a strong cohesion policy.

Madam President, Romania's treasure represents an open wound in the heart of the Romanian people, a painful scar of the past, which reminds us of the injustices committed. It is time to put an end to this dark chapter and make sure that Russia is responsible for this barbaric act. In the middle of World War II, when the national territory was two-thirds occupied, the country's leadership decided to move the treasury to the territory of Russia, an allied state at the time. 108 years have passed since we asked for the return of our treasure, more precisely, the 41 wagons loaded with 91.5 tons of fine gold, but also other objects of inestimable value. This episode in Romania's history is living proof that Russia is anything but an ally, and our trust must be a lesson learned for any state that sees Russia as a possible partner. It is time for the 41 wagons to return home, to recover our damage, and for Russia to pay for all these years of waiting. I congratulate the European Parliament on its involvement in solving this problem.

I have to intervene, dear colleagues, because it seems to me that you, a good part of your colleagues in this room, are not aware of what the European Commission's proposal on the Animal Transport Regulation means. Colleague, are you aware that the European Commission has sent to Parliament to discuss and debate the Animal Transport Regulation? Because it seems to me from the debate here that you are not aware of the legislation proposed by the European Commission. Do you know this? We are debating this regulation next week in the AGRI Committee.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen colleagues, animal welfare is on the public agenda at European level, being a major concern for both citizens and political decision-makers. From the outset, I would point out one thing that I have found as rapporteur of the Committee of Inquiry on Animal Transport, namely the failure of Member States to comply with animal welfare legislation. It is a painful truth, but we must recognise it in order to make real progress in this area. In other words, no matter how much legislation we adopt, if it is not respected, we will not be able to achieve our objectives. But possible future legislation must be done in full collaboration with farmers. They are the cornerstone of the entire agricultural system and are the key factor in this area. We need to listen to them and take into account their concerns in order to develop policies that are effective, enforceable and sustainable over time, and not detached from reality, so as to destroy the livestock sector in the European Union. I want to assure all citizens, but also farmers, that their voice is heard and that we are all partners in the process.