Speeches

Madam President, dear Mr Fitto, dear colleagues, I am glad that this report finally acknowledges the reality. The green transition has brought few benefits, but mostly major damage to many of Europe's regions. Today we are just trying to repair this damage and to be honest, the least developed regions in the European Union have paid the highest price of the Green Deal policy, both economically and socially, while the rich regions have been able to profit from it. This is because European policies and solutions must be tailored to the realities and needs of each region. In addition, we need a more efficient and competitive European economy. It is time to put aside ideologies and really look at the interest of citizens, because Europe does not look the same everywhere. What is seen in Brussels does not at all resemble the reality in a commune in eastern Romania, Poland or Bulgaria. One solution doesn't suit everyone. Until this regional mosaic is truly integrated into European economic planning, we cannot really talk about cohesion in the European Union.

Mr. President, dear colleagues, how can we show here, in the heart of Europe, a serious and responsible Romania, when our governors have ruined the country's finances? After years of promises and pseudo-reforms, Romania is collapsing into a huge budget deficit, and today's governors are proposing austerity measures that also sanction the right Romanians, the working Romanians and the vulnerable. We complained that the governors were not attracting enough European funds for hospitals and highways. Because of them, we risk getting nothing. We learn that an excessive deficit procedure is soon being added to the bill, which the European Commission is now speeding up against Romania. We risk having vital money suspended from the NRRPs and cohesion funds. I appeal to all members of the European Parliament: Let us not forget that, beyond figures and budgets, we are talking about people. Romanians should not be punished. For them we need to find the best solutions so that they do not lose confidence in Europe.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, our vote on the North Macedonia file is more than just a legislative exercise. This is a political signal. The European Union needs enlargement to remain relevant and stable in a changing world, and North Macedonia needs us, a clear signal that the European path remains open to it when it completes the constitutional reforms it has committed to. This country has taken courageous, even painful steps, I would say, to continue its European accession path. If we do not recognise this effort, we risk losing the trust of the citizens and the political class there and, even worse, we risk giving way to increasingly aggressive foreign influences from outside Europe. European accession must reflect real reforms. Let us remember that enlargement must not be a land of dispute, but a proof that Europe is keeping its word. The place of North Macedonia is in our great European family.

Madam President, dear Ms Kos, dear colleagues, the enlargement of the European Union is a strategic priority. Bosnia and Herzegovina needs to continue its European path on the basis of concrete progress and compliance with the accession criteria. Accession cannot be a symbolic gesture or an ideological instrument. It must reflect real reforms. At the same time, we must be lucid. Foreign influences and interference in the Western Balkans are increasingly aggressive. Through active support for the integration of the region, the European Union strengthens its own security and reduces the risks of destabilisation. I believe that the European Parliament must unequivocally uphold the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as its constitutional order. But we cannot ignore the fact that the lack of genuine political will for reforms slows down this path. Bosnia and Herzegovina still has essential steps to take and the European Union must remain demanding but fair in this process. Membership is earned, not offered.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, at a time when the major global powers are competing to expand their influence, the European Union must recognise that enlargement is not just an opportunity, but a strategic necessity. We need to incorporate the Western Balkans into the European project for the stability, prosperity and security of our continent. Montenegro is the most advanced candidate country with strong public support for EU membership by the Montenegrin people and substantial progress in rule of law reforms. At the same time, reforms on justice, the professionalisation of the administration, freedom of the press and the fight against corruption must remain priorities, but these efforts must be accompanied by a clear message from us. If our partners meet the criteria, the European Union must deliver on its commitments. In order for the enlargement process to retain its credibility, Montenegro's integration into the European Union family must take place as soon as possible.

Mr. President, dear colleagues, I am addressing the Romanians. I know you didn't vote for scandal, but that's what you got. I know you didn't vote for higher prices, but that's what you'll still get. Since the election of the new President of Romania until today we still do not have a Government, and the interim Government is playing hide-and-seek with your money. From Strasbourg, things are worrying. Politicians in Bucharest, a whole Europe sees that you are afraid to face the crisis that you yourself have created. You do not want to take on the weight of the economic recovery that Romania needs. Instead of talking about clear strategies to get us out of the crisis, instead of talking about better tax collection and how we can build a state budget that meets the real needs of Romanians, the post-electoral circus continues. Don't raise taxes on Russians. Better collect the money that needs to enter the state budget. No one deserves to pay for your mistakes.

Madam President, Mr Fitto, ladies and gentlemen, first of all it must be stressed that the main objective of cohesion policy is the gradual reduction of disparities between regions, that is to say, the expression of European solidarity. However, reality is changing rapidly. We have new priorities, unforeseen crises and investment pressures in strategic areas. Therefore, the flexibility of cohesion policy should give Member States the chance to invest where it is really needed. Cohesion funds must remain a real support for the regions and communities that need them, and where resources have not been spent on time, they must not be lost, but smartly rethought and redistributed by the Member State itself. However, cohesion policy cannot become a kind of good piggy bank at all. Flexibility is certainly necessary, but it must be targeted, balanced and responsible.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, democracy, the rule of law, political pluralism and free voting have disappeared from Romania. Elections are diverted from their democratic purpose and turned into an instrument of political struggle. The right to stand as a candidate is today brutally violated, and the electoral law is interpreted only to the advantage of the ruling political class. We play as the European Commission commands, a kind of High Commissioner for Just Repression during the Soviet period. Electoral abuse, banning some citizens from running and preventing a large section of society from exercising their legitimate right to vote seem to have become the new rule in Romania. Through electoral censorship, the Romanian authorities have succeeded in inflaming the population, creating maximum tension in a society where millions of people today feel unjust and disobedient. How can Romanians still trust democracy or justice? This nightmare has to stop. We must immediately return to democratic values and freedom.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the Republic of Moldova belongs to the European family not only geographically and historically, but also through the values and aspirations of its citizens. Half of them are already citizens of the European Union through their Romanian citizenship. It is therefore our responsibility to unequivocally support Chisinau's European integration path. The European Union's growth plan is a clear signal. The Republic of Moldova must be supported to permanently decouple from the Eastern influences. Reform, modernization, distancing from the Soviet heritage, all this must be strongly encouraged. I voted for a support of EUR 1.9 billion for the Republic of Moldova. It's not just a financial aid, it's a political statement that we are with our brothers across the Prut. The Union is making the power and maybe one day this political, economic and spiritual reunion will be perfected under the same tricolour in the European Union. Until then, the Republic of Moldova needs our support. Now, here, concretely.

Dear President, ladies and gentlemen, in recent months we have had the opportunity to see with satisfaction that democracy in Serbia is functioning. The citizens demonstrated their civic spirit and the protests sent a clear message to the political elites. They had to take note of the popular will and initiate measures aimed at recalibrating Serbia's European path. Given that the European Union is Serbia's main political and economic partner, Belgrade should accelerate the implementation of the reforms needed to align the acquis communautaire. Serbia's commitment to its strategic objective, European integration, needs concrete action. Thus, I want to highlight the situation of ethnic Romanians in Serbia, whose rights must be guaranteed and respected according to European standards, as is the case with other minorities in Serbia. The Serbs now need a clear signal of support from the European Union, which must encourage them in their fight against corruption and organised crime and for the rule of law and democratic values.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, enlargement policy is and must remain a priority for the European Union, which, without the countries of the Western Balkans and the Republic of Moldova, would be incomplete. Enlargement is not only an opportunity for these countries, but also for the European Union itself. Enlarging the European project must contribute to strengthening security and guaranteeing peace on the continent. However, the benefits of membership for the Western Balkan countries can only exist if the whole process remains merit-based and reforms are implemented irreversibly and not in half-measures. Democracy, the rule of law and fundamental values are non-negotiable. They must remain the main pillars of accession to the European project. Accession to the European Union must be a strategic commitment, not a reaction to geopolitical pressures or influences from Russia or China. Enlargement is not a race against time, but a marathon of real reforms, and together we are stronger.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, democracy and freedom have been killed in Romania. Thirty-five years after the 1989 Revolution, we are now experiencing the restoration of dictatorship. The neo-Marxist globalist network is desperate for the democratic loss of power and shows us its true totalitarian face. More than two million Romanians voted in the first round of the presidential elections in favor of the conservative, sovereignist and patriotic candidate, Calin Georgescu. This panic led to the abusive cancellation of the first round of the presidential elections and threw Romania into a situation of unprecedented political instability. Freedom of speech is censored. Simple people, farmers, farmers are raised by masked men by means that remind us of the Stalinist period. These are the habits of those who say that by canceling elections they have restored democracy. Romanians have been and are consistently deeply pro-European and committed to the transatlantic alliance. We are dealing with an obvious struggle between globalism and sovereignism. Romanians demand free elections and need your support. Stand in solidarity with the Russian people!

Mr President, dear colleagues, the critical infrastructure of a state must be protected, not sold. Unfortunately, the Romanian politicians who went through leading positions of the state did not understand that our country should not be plundered. Since the fall of communism, Romania has given up much of its natural resources, which eventually led to an explosion in gas, electricity and even water prices. We are talking today about the concession of reservoirs for the development of energy storage capacities in Romania. Yes, we need a legislative framework that stimulates both the obtaining of energy from more resources, as well as investments, because this contributes to the country's energy security, but the state must retain strategic control over their exploitation. Energy must not become strictly the monopoly of profit-seeking private individuals. We need strategic and appropriate investment, not to hand our country over to foreigners.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, cohesion policy remains the cornerstone of sustainable and equitable development in the European Union in order to reduce regional disparities. More than 28% of Europeans live in regions where GDP per capita is below 75% of the European Union average. Less developed and peripheral regions must be at the heart of cohesion policy, so as not to leave any European citizen behind. It is also necessary to provide tailor-made solutions according to the specific needs of each region and Member State. We have learned from previous periods that administrative delays and the complexity of implementing European funds have prevented the necessary support from being delivered quickly and efficiently. It is essential that budget allocations are more flexible and allow for rapid responses to new challenges. That is why I strongly believe that cohesion policy must remain under shared management in order to be effective, and that the European Union budget should reflect this basic principle.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, it has often been mentioned in this Parliament that it is not normal to have a multi-speed European Union and that we cannot have European citizens treated unequally. However, we continue to face double standards for products marketed in the EU. It is unacceptable that Romania or other Central and Eastern European countries receive, under the same brand and with the same packaging, products of inferior quality compared to those of the West. Whether it is food or other goods, European citizens are entitled to the same quality standards. This is neither normal nor fair. European producers must eliminate these disparities, while the EU must be vigilant and sanction market abuses in order to protect the rights and health of all its consumers. Romania and Europe deserve respect and fairness.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, today we are at a crossroads where the very essence of our identity as Europeans is in jeopardy. We value our freedoms and rights, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, as they are core values of the European Union. Unfortunately, however, these freedoms, together with our Christian traditions and values, are seriously threatened by the trend of uniformization and secularization forced by this top-down dictatorship. Europe's Christian heritage is the cornerstone of our civilization. We must not allow the forces of secularism or globalism to undermine these vital principles that have defined us as European peoples. I want a Europe that remains anchored in its Christian roots, a union of sovereign nations, each contributing to a magnificent mosaic of cultural, spiritual and historical richness. We must defend the integrity of our Christianity, lest we risk losing the soul of Europe, its faith, its traditions and its freedoms. So help us God!

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, schools, parents and young people in Romania are facing an extremely serious social problem: Alarming drug use among schoolchildren. Nearly three thousand students were declared drug users last year, and the average age at which young people start using drugs is only 13 years old. But the statistics capture only a small part of the reality, and behind the numbers there are many more unseen victims, including stigmatized parents who do not have the tools to get their children on the right track. What do we do to protect young people? We need a profound reform of the education and health system, including measures to prevent and combat drug use. We need to join forces at national and European level to provide support to parents and real solutions to young people affected by this scourge.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, together with my colleagues in the ECR, I voted today in favour of the resolution on the situation in Venezuela, a country where anti-democratic abuse has reached its peak. We have to take a stand! Under President Maduro's totalitarian regime, Venezuela has been driven into chaos. Under the aegis of communism, Maduro continued to destroy what was once the pride of Latin America, a thriving and vibrant Venezuela. Now, instead of prosperity, we see only an oppressed population, silenced, deprived of rights and freedoms. More than 7.7 million Venezuelans have been forced to flee their country in search of a dignified life. The recent elections, declared undemocratic by independent observers and defrauded by the National Electoral Council, only confirmed the desire of this regime to cling with power, at any cost, to power. The illegitimate president, Maduro, effectively subjugated the country's institutions in the service of his own interest. The international community, including the European Union, cannot recognise this regime. After decades of totalitarian rule, Venezuela is now a failed state. These are the fruits of communism. We can't let history repeat itself.

Madam President, dear colleagues, dear Romanians, the situation of 1 347 political prisoners held in inhuman conditions in Belarusian prisons shows that the fight for freedom, dignity and justice is not just a matter of the past. The situation of political prisoners in Belarus reminds me of the situation of those during the communist regime in Romania. I know how hundreds of thousands of Romanians, labelled as enemies of the people, were imprisoned or killed and their families persecuted. Brilliant students were kicked out of universities, guilty only because they had a supposedly unhealthy social origin. Among them, my father, priests, teachers, doctors or simple peasants. Guilty of conspiring against the social order, they were arrested, tortured by the security and thrown into prison without the right of appeal. Unfortunately, history is repeating itself, and we must oppose the actions of totalitarian regimes in Europe.

Mr President, Minister, ladies and gentlemen, while respecting the sovereignty of our Hungarian neighbours and the fact that Hungary is legitimately able to decide who it accepts or does not accept on its territory, we cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that, once again, Mr Orbán's policies are contrary to the spirit of European cooperation and solidarity. All Europeans, including Romanians, want to bring peace back to the continent. So what exactly do we do for the security of the Schengen area? Romania is a deep European fund state and certainly not on Putin's friends list. In addition, we are also a country that has been fully compliant with the Schengen regulations since 2011. However, we are still kept at the gates of Europe. Why do we forget about Romania, when the security and stability of the European project is at stake? It is time to further strengthen the European free movement area that unites us, and this means that Romania must be fully part of the Schengen area in the shortest time, without half measures.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, one of Romania's biggest problems is the demographic one. We have a Romania outside of Romania. Of Romania's entire population of 19 million citizens, almost eight million of them live and work abroad. More Romanian children are born abroad than in the country, and at this rate, if we do nothing, Romania will die. Those in charge of Romania do nothing to prevent young Romanians from leaving the country and those who have left to be motivated to return home. Due to a lack of vision, one in three young people under the age of 20 has come to want to leave Romania. In 20 counties of Romania, the number of pensioners exceeds the active population. It is time for Romania to regain the trust of its young people. So help us God!