Speeches

Madam President, first of all, let me congratulate Paolo De Castro and the shadow rapporteurs on their work. Geographical indications are a guarantee of the quality of food products, regardless of the sectors we are talking about. Farmers or producer groups will be able to strengthen their position in supply chains by having at their disposal the necessary tools to offer consumers products with high added value and especially from well-defined regions. The mechanisms designed in this report will make it possible to combat unfair competition effectively, which will help preserve the cultural and gastronomic heritage of the regions of the European Union. We would like to draw your attention, Commissioner, to the need to simplify the procedures for obtaining geographical indications. The European Commission must step up promotion measures to raise consumer awareness of the quality of these products, and labelling must be done in a way that is not confusing. Whether we are talking about Telemeaua de Ibănești or Telemeaua de Sibiu or Prosciutto di Parma, the consumer must have the guarantee of the quality of the products for which he offers an extra penny.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen colleagues, from the outset I would like to stress that we do not question the need for Ukraine's farmers to be further supported. In this context, I underline that Romania has ensured the transport of more than 60% of Ukrainian grain to third areas. At the same time, however, Commissioner, large quantities of cereals remained in Romania and put immeasurable pressure on farmers who simply had nowhere else to sell their products at prices that would cover their production costs. Transport lanes were inaccessible to them, the transport infrastructure being both insufficient and very expensive. The European Commission and Member States need to understand that there is an additional need for ships, trucks and train cars to ensure efficient transport. Romania and the states close to the war cannot be left alone in this situation. Otherwise, the question arises, Commissioner, what do we do with farmers in these countries? We gave them European subsidies to produce grain. They spent their own money to set up the crops, and now we see that they are left with grain in their stocks. I believe that at the moment the only solution is for these cereals to be managed directly by the European Commission and then shipped under international programmes to combat hunger to African areas, where more than 42 million citizens are suffering from hunger, and the suspension of duty-free grain exports to the five states must be extended beyond 5 June.

Mr President, it is sad that we are discussing today the role of farmers in the ecological transition and of a resilient agricultural sector, as if it were possible to have all this without farmers. I do not think that we can talk about food security today without a strong agricultural sector, and this means adequate funding, but above all we need predictable legislation that can be easily implemented by farmers. At the same time, we need serious impact studies, anchored in the realities of the field and not studies done in sumptuous offices by people who have not been in their lives on a farm, tributary only to Timmermans' thinking. Commissioner, does the Commission have any impact studies on the Regulation on reducing pesticides by 50% or on the Nature Restoration Regulation? Because we don't know about these impact studies. Can farmers meet these challenges? Because they tell us they can't meet these challenges.

, – I would start from a non-negotiable issue: Support for Ukraine must continue. At the same time, however, I fully agree with you that today there are problems in Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia, and the European Commission, Commissioner, must react at this time, including for what it means to buy these cereals, which today create major difficulties for farmers in these areas. I made it very clear: solidarity cannot be called into question, but at the same time we have asked you to bear in mind that farmers in these areas have problems and need a firm response to these problems, and we cannot be left alone in the face of these challenges.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen colleagues, we are all aware that cohesion policy is the main tool at the disposal of regions across the European Union to bridge the gap between them. Unfortunately, over the last two years, we have been witnessing major challenges, which are simply taking a toll on the economic and social cohesion of the regions, as a result of challenges that we all experience; Whether we are talking about the energy crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation or the war in Ukraine, the effects are more than visible. In this context, regions are affected differently. Some were more prepared to face the challenges mentioned above, while others were not. Member States have struggled to manage these situations, including through the granting of aid de minimis in various sectors. As we well know, this aid is, however, limited to values that, in my opinion, need to be revised. We need to increase these thresholds so that Member States can intervene effectively and, of course, in a differentiated manner. The cohesion policy and the common agricultural policy are indestructibly linked. I would therefore like to highlight here the challenges faced by SMEs, especially in rural areas and especially in countries close to Ukraine. Today's reality, generated by duty-free trade flows from Ukraine, creates major difficulties for many economic sectors in border regions. Aid de minimis what they need must be properly sized, tailored to their needs and obviously much more than at present. Otherwise, the depopulation of these areas will be even more accelerated and this must be avoided. (The speaker agreed to respond to a blue card intervention)

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the European Union today has the highest standards for animal welfare, from the very first days of life until slaughter, because we are convinced that there is an inextricable link between the welfare and the quality of the products obtained. In the European Parliament, we had a committee of inquiry on animal welfare during transport, where for 18 months we heard various actors involved in this area. One of the conclusions of this committee was that Regulation No 1/ 2005 does not apply properly in very many Member States. I would like to point out, Commissioner, that whatever legislation exists at European level, if it is not properly implemented, we will never have the desired effects. Member States today have the possibility to allocate money through the new CAP to farmers who ensure increased welfare standards, and Romania has done so thanks to its commitment to respect the long-term welfare of animals. At the same time, we must be careful not to impose additional burdens on farmers, who still face a series of restrictions in a difficult period, which would further accelerate the phenomenon of rural abandonment.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen colleagues, we welcome citizens' concerns about the fate of the beekeeping sector. According to FAO, of the 100 crop species that provide 90% of the world's food, 71 species are pollinated by bees. The importance of protecting bees is therefore more than essential for the future of the agricultural sector, for farmers, but also for food security. However, data provided by the European Commission show that in 2019 and 2020 there was an increase in the number of hives by 5.1% and 7.6% respectively at European level. The highest increase was achieved in Spain, 10%, and in Romania, 8.5%. So, colleagues, there may be an increase in the number of bees or bee families, even if we use pesticides, provided that they are used rationally. Today's proposal on the table of the European Parliament aims at a phased reduction of pesticide consumption. Regardless of the percentages circulated, either 30% or 80%, they will not be able to be implemented uniformly, for the simple reason that we have major differences between Member States in terms of consumption. Thus, Romania consumes 650 grams per hectare, and the Netherlands consumes 7 900 grams per hectare. There is no way to reduce this percentage uniformly across Member States. At the same time, a reduction in the amount of pesticides, without serious impact studies or viable alternatives for farmers, will be likely to seriously affect the agricultural sector as well as bees.

Mr President, firstly, I thank Mr Norbert Lins and Markey Colm for their work. Dear colleagues, access to fertilisers has been a pre-war problem for European farmers, but especially for those in the East who have lower subsidies. Dependence on Russian gas, but also on chemical fertilisers from Russia and Belarus, is currently causing difficulties in terms of food security. And I am not just talking about the European Union, I am talking about global food security, both in terms of quantity and the need for food to be affordable. It is estimated that at least 30-50% of global crop harvests are attributed to fertiliser application, and according to expert studies, we cannot currently feed the world's population without fertilisers. Today, in countries close to the war with Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Poland or the Republic of Moldova, agricultural production is sold at prices well below cost, and the lack of fertilizers puts them on the verge of bankruptcy. Even in the short term, this shortage puts at risk the timely establishment of crops, a negative impact on farmers and food security. We therefore need urgent solutions. Farmers must have access to affordable electricity, natural gas, fertilisers and the swift adoption of legislation on new plant breeding techniques to increase crop yields. It is also important to accelerate the process of external convergence so that farmers can face the current challenges. Commissioner, we appreciate the Commission's plan on fertilisers, but can the European Commission understand that farmers now need financial resources to be made available to them to deal with this crisis situation? Can the European Commission understand that farmers need money not only from the CAP crisis reserve, but also from alternative financial sources outside the common agricultural policy? Without such resources, we risk the bankruptcy of European farmers, which we certainly do not want.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, we are all aware that, in the long term, the European Union must strengthen its energy independence. REPowerEU is thus the means by which Member States can make additional investments in the field of energy. They have already understood their own responsibility, so the energy sector occupies a predominant place in the national recovery and resilience plans. Last but not least, REPowerEU supports investment schemes aimed at tackling energy poverty for vulnerable households, small and medium-sized enterprises. I welcome the outcome of the negotiations and appreciate the fact that the money from agriculture is still available to farmers. They will do whatever is necessary to ensure food security in these difficult times for the sector. Agriculture has been and is an important pillar in a complex of mechanisms including ensuring energy independence and combating climate change. However, it is important that the agricultural sector is further allocated substantial financial resources to meet current challenges, including those related to energy. REPowerEU is proof that any crisis can become an opportunity to be stronger.

Mr President, Austria's vote was not only against Romania and Bulgaria joining the Schengen area, but it was a vote against the unity of the European Union, calling into question the very functionality of the European institutions. Karl Nehammer, you know well that Romania is not responsible for the presence of 75,000 migrants in Austria. Din păcate, cinstea, corectitudinea și onestitatea nu sunt elemente care să te definească. But remember that by lying, nothing lasting can be built. You cannot say in the Salzburg Forum in November this year that you support Romania's accession to the Schengen area, and a few days later do exactly the opposite. Chancellor, Putin and Russia certainly thank you today, but do not forget that history will judge you tomorrow, because with this vote you have begun a process of destroying the European project that for over 70 years has guaranteed peace and stability in Europe. The heads of state and government tell you that you have a moral obligation to immediately defend the European project, and this means Romania and Bulgaria in the Schengen area.

Madam President, I would first of all like to congratulate the rapporteur on her work and honourable colleagues, we are all aware of the importance of rural areas, whether we are talking about food security, combating climate change or tourism. However, European policies have failed to develop these areas, so today only 11% of farms in the European Union are run by farmers under 40. Investment in broadband internet, water services, road connectivity, healthcare and education is indispensable. Commissioner, we must be aware that it is only when the urban-rural divide is closed that we can truly talk about reversing demographic trends. The synergy of funds and the strengthening of the LEADER programme must be coupled with the reduction of bureaucracy in the process of accessing European funds. The war in Ukraine has shown us once again the importance of preserving the capacity of rural areas to provide quality and affordable food. That is why I want to stress the need for the European Commission's policies to be anchored in the new geopolitical realities.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen colleagues, we are living realities that cannot be challenged. Today, farmers across the European Union are affected by the presence of large predators. Whole regions, especially in the mountainous area, are simply abandoned as a result of the destruction of farms by wild animals. Tourism in various areas is also affected and many places are no longer frequented by tourists for fear of wolves or bears. Approximately 13,000 bears live in Romania, and incidents are becoming more frequent. Cities in the mountainous area are increasingly visited by bears, and on the sports grounds in the school yard the presence of the bear is a frightening reality. The Habitats Directive has achieved its objectives with regard to the wolf and the bear, and the European Commission must consider immediate revision to make its provisions more flexible. For those of the European Commission and the European Parliament who are shielding against the revision of this directive, I ask you to go to the mountain pastures to see what the attack of the wolf or the bear means and to appreciate with your own senses what it is to be in the proximity of these animals. All those who today weep at the mercy of great predators ask you to look into the eyes of farmers and explain to them that the life of wild animals is more important than their life and work. I also invite you to talk to the 269 people in Romania mutilated by the bear in the last four years and to talk to the children of the 29 people killed by the bear in the same period.

Mr President, thank you very much for having the opportunity to have a discussion on a very important issue, namely the transport of grain through the Black Sea. Mr High Representative, as you are well aware, this is indispensable for guaranteeing food security in various parts of the world, on the one hand, and, on the other, it is obviously an indispensable mechanism for preventing the phenomenon of migration. Romania, the country where I come from, you know very well that it has ensured the transit of over 65 percent of the grain exported from Ukraine to various corners of the world. This has created great pressure on transport infrastructure of all types, river, sea and land, and at the same time has created major difficulties for farmers in Romania. My question to you is, Mr High Representative, how does the European Commission intend to support the Member States so that they can continue to ensure the flow of cereals to third countries, but at the same time protect farmers in those countries?

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen colleagues, I welcome the outcome of the trilogue, which I consider to be a balanced one, and I congratulate all the actors involved in the negotiation. The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive aims to put in place a transparent mechanism to help build an economy in the interest of citizens, with everything that means, in all respects. During the trialogue negotiations, however, we started from the undisputed premise that we do not want to create excessive bureaucracy for businesses and make their work more difficult. Thus, we have opted for SMEs that are not listed on the stock exchange to do this reporting on a voluntary basis, and for those listed on the stock exchange to have their first reporting in 2028, obviously using simplified communication standards. In order to ensure a level playing field, provisions have also been introduced requiring sustainability reporting by subsidiaries or branches in the European Union of companies established outside the European Union. The reporting requirements have been assessed by us as having to be both proportionate to the scope and, of course, to the objectives of this Directive. With regard to risk sectors, we note that the information must be correlated with the extent of the risks, taking into account that they may be higher for some sectors than for others. However, I draw the attention of the European Commission not to create excessive bureaucracy for SMEs through delegated acts, as they are already facing a difficult economic situation due to the war and the energy crisis.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the war in Ukraine and the energy crisis have had the effect of limiting the quantities of fertilisers available to farmers. In this context, the agricultural sector today faces one of the biggest challenges related to the increase in the price of fertilisers, with an average of around 200%. In many cases, farmers are put in a position to reduce their activity, and this implicitly means reducing production in the future. The European Commission is identifying, with today's communication, some solutions that I would consider to be insufficient, Commissioner. The use of the agricultural crisis reserve must, in my view, be activated as early as the beginning of 2023. Member States were given the possibility to grant some State aid schemes to farmers, which they did. But we must understand, Commissioner, that the action of the Member States is limited by their own budgetary resources. That is why, in this context, I urge you to come up with new, serious money for the agricultural sector, if we really want to save it. In the long term, the aim of the European Commission must be to develop fertiliser production capacities within the European Union, but in the short term it is vital to turn our attention to other third countries capable of providing fertilisers to farmers in the European Union at affordable prices for them.

I very much appreciate the concerns of the agriculture ministers, the G20, but these must be followed by the implementation of balanced policies in the agricultural sector. The war in Ukraine has disrupted agricultural markets and exacerbated the already serious situation caused by Covid-19, putting additional pressure on food security and causing food prices to rise. Commissioner, I very much appreciate your comments on the issue of fertilisers and I fully agree with what you are saying. But today farmers are under increasing pressure from the European Commission, and the Pesticide Use Reduction Regulation and the Industrial Emissions Reduction Directive, I draw your attention, can irretrievably destroy our farmers and will therefore cause hunger and migration. We must understand that this war started by Russia is not only a war fought with weapons, but also a food and energy war. The world’s population is continuously dynamic, reaching more than 10 billion in 2050, implying, according to studies, an increase in agricultural production of more than 70% compared to the current period. The European Union and the states of the world must take swift and concrete action to ensure food security at both European and global level. In other words, we need to turn challenges into opportunities. In order to ensure the necessary production, however, farmers need support (and here I am referring to both farmers in the European Union and farmers outside the European Union). I do not want to end up in a situation where the liter of milk and the kilogram of meat are regarded as a museum piece, unattainable for the general consumer, especially in the poor areas of the world.

Mr President, Commissioner, the European Commission must understand that we are at the 12th hour in terms of food security - perhaps listen to me - and the fertiliser strategy must be put on the table immediately. The agricultural sector has faced major challenges over time, be it labour shortages or the Covid pandemic. Moreover, this year the sector faced three major challenges: rising prices for fertilisers and energy, severe drought and war in Ukraine. Unfortunately, the European Commission has so far not come up with sufficient measures for the agricultural sector, and proposals to reduce fertiliser consumption or carbon emissions are only harming farmers. The problem of fertilizers is a complex one, since most of it was imported from Ukraine and Belarus, and the extremely high price makes them difficult to access for farmers. According to some studies, we cannot currently feed the world's population without fertilizers. It is estimated that at least ... between 30 and 50 % of global crop yields are attributed to fertiliser application. I draw attention, as seriously as possible, to the need to further preserve the European Union's ability to provide food for the world's poor, because otherwise we will witness waves of refugees from African countries towards the European Union. The European Commission must understand that there is an urgent need to come up with measures, and that means money, not stories, so that European Union farmers have access to the necessary and sufficient quantities of fertilisers to be able to produce quality and affordable food for consumers.

Mr President, I thank all my colleagues for supporting the accession process of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area. Thank you, Commissioner, and also thank you, Minister. Since 2011, Romania has met all the technical requirements. It has made the necessary investments in security systems, strengthened legislation and constantly trained officials in the field. The war in Ukraine has demonstrated once again that the Romanian authorities have the capacity to manage large migratory flows. We have ensured a constant transit of grain from Ukraine to all parts of the world, preventing hunger. We have been and are an integral part of the efforts of the international community to end this war waged by Putin. We have therefore expressed our solidarity in difficult times for the European Union. We have been and are providers of security and stability in the region. We demand nothing but a right that we have earned. We ask to be welcomed where we belong. Otherwise, the risk of extremist currents is huge and the price paid by the European project will be far too high. One thing to be clear, Commissioner, one thing to be clear, Minister, we can continue to offer solidarity in times of war, to guarantee stability in difficult times. But we will no longer tolerate being humiliated. Today, Romanians and Bulgarians, companies in Romania and Bulgaria, do not even conceive that the Union will not stand in solidarity with them and give them what, deeply and unfairly, they have been denied for so long: access to the Schengen area.

Madam President, we are all looking to Ukraine, showing our appreciation, empathy for the victims and sufferings of this people. Europe and the world continue to provide it with all the support it needs to deal with this war. However, we must be aware of the challenges faced by the states bordering Ukraine in terms of grain transit. Romania fully understands its importance and the need to ensure global food security. That is why we have opened new border points and reduced bureaucracy as much as possible. However, there is a worrying phenomenon, namely the retention of significant quantities of cereals from Ukraine on the territory of the European Union, but especially in border countries, such as Romania, although these cereals should reach mainly African countries. This generates deep, unfair competition for farmers across the European Union, in Romania, who find themselves forced to sell their own production well below cost. Solidarity must exist, but that doesn't mean we have to destroy our farmers.

Mr President, I believe that there is a need first of all to reduce bureaucracy in terms of accessing European funds, because today the main destructive factor in terms of an efficient process of absorption of European funds is bureaucracy and, in this respect, I believe that intervention from the European Commission is needed, so that we can speak of a fluent process of accessing European funds.

Mr President, thank you; I would first of all like to thank Mrs Constanze Krehl for all her work in the Committee on Regional Development. Cohesion policy is the instrument that must give citizens confidence in their future, no matter where in Europe they are. The COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine caused the worst recession since 1945, and this forces us to take a set of concrete actions aimed at removing regional disparities. Investments in infrastructure, whether rail or road, along with medical or school infrastructure, are indispensable elements for any region. Long-term economic growth is subsumed by broadband access, but above all by research and innovation. A special place is the strengthening of links between urban and rural areas, which have the opportunity to offer new opportunities for development and to stimulate economic and social development. Encouraging investment at regional, urban and rural levels by mobilising private sector resources must be coupled with a substantial reduction in red tape in accessing European funds. And in this context, I stress, Commissioner, the need for synergy of funds, enabling these objectives to be achieved, and the example of the LEADER Fund is the best to follow for all Member States. Cross-border regions need solutions and policies adapted to new realities. At the same time, keeping Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia outside the Schengen area is deeply immoral, as these states are technically ready and regional development is impossible without belonging to this area. (The speaker agreed to respond to a blue card intervention)

Mr President, thank you, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen colleagues, for 500 years, Europe has not experienced such a drought as today, which has generated fires, affected the energy sector, but above all the agricultural sector. Drought, rising energy prices, rising fertiliser prices, the uncontrolled presence of large quantities of grain from Ukraine in EU countries, sold at unbelievably low prices, are putting pressure on the agricultural sector. Farmers in Europe are forced to close their farms due to costly prices, and those in the livestock sector are forced to take their animals to the slaughterhouse due to the lack of fodder destroyed by the drought. Fighting droughts requires investment in technologies that enable sustainable water management, and that requires European money, Commissioner. And remember one more thing, Commissioner: without new money in agriculture and without serious investments in irrigation systems, we will face this phenomenon again in the coming years, risking to have a food crisis that will manifest itself not only in the lack of food, but also in the fact that they will become inaccessible in terms of price.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen colleagues, global food security is at risk, and the war in Ukraine has put another thorny issue on the table: the transport of cereals. At the same time, we must ensure that cereals are transited to their final destinations. Remaining uncontrolled within the European Union is likely to put pressure on European farmers who are already in a position to sell their production well below cost prices. Romania understands the importance of grain transit and is making major efforts in this regard. It has increased transit capacities, simplified procedures, created special lanes and opened new border posts. However, these efforts must be made together, with the help of other countries and with direct support from the European Commission. More train cars, trucks and, of course, ships are needed. Commissioner, I have asked for all these things, but so far I have received nothing. In other words, concrete actions are needed, not empty words or sterile empathies. Global problems need global action, and combating global hunger must be our major goal in the future.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen colleagues, we are all aware of the importance of this legislative package. The European Union's climate policies will undergo major changes in the coming period. However, these transformations must take into account the current geopolitical reality and the reality in each country. The war in Ukraine and the pandemic have shown us how vulnerable we are to various challenges. I would like to draw attention to the need to create mechanisms that enable the frontline sectors, agriculture or transport, or the forestry sector, to receive adequate funding, in order to achieve their objectives, but also to preserve jobs. Commissioner Timmermans, we cannot ask for more to be done with less money. Let's make this very clear. We know that agriculture and forestry play an important role in carbon management and absorption. At the same time, production capacity must not be diminished at European level, and food security – and I emphasise this – must be ensured not only at European Union level, as is sometimes falsely said by the European Commission, but also at global level. Last but not least, I stress again, the ambitions assumed must not be detached from the realities of today, if we want to be serious and credible in front of the public opinion.

Madam President, Jean Monet said, "We are not uniting states, we are uniting people". The Conference on the Future of Europe demonstrated that the European Union is made up of people who share the same values. The debate has received a clear perspective from the experiences of the past decades. Unfortunately, the public's perception of leadership Europe has not always been the best, and this was not due to European policies, but to the fact that we have not been able to communicate with them, with Brexit being the best example of this. The debate on the necessary reforms has been consistent. Beyond these debates, however, we have strong concerns about what it means to have access to an effective health system that increases the life expectancy of European citizens or to education, which can be defined as immediate priorities for them: combating climate change using resources efficiently and taking into account the specificities of each country or access to quality and affordable food are also strong concerns of citizens. However, the realities around us have changed since the beginning of the debate until today. We are all witnessing Russian aggression, and Europe is experiencing the greatest challenge to security and peace since the end of World War II. At the same time, our citizens need security guarantees that can only be provided by a strong Europe. This conference has shown that tomorrow's Europe has a future. Across Europe, citizens have made their voices heard on how to make the European Union a better place for all. Our major objective is to strengthen a Europe of values where no one is left behind. This is in the hands of all of us, and the Conference on the Future of Europe has shown us the way forward. Beyond any dispute, dear colleagues, do not forget to love Europe every day.