Speeches

On 23 September 2021, UN Secretary—General António Guterres will convene a Food Systems Summit as part of the Decade of Action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The Summit will awaken the world to the fact that we must all work together to transform the way the world produces, consumes and thinks about food, interconnecting all 17 SDGs, focusing on those relating to eradicating poverty and hungry, mainstreaming the gender dimension and innovation, in a climate—neutral world. The COVID—19 pandemic is a wake—up call for change. The crisis has underlined the fact that getting food ‘from farm to fork’, as the EU has launched the strategy, cannot be taken for granted and has demonstrated the interconnectedness of actors and activities in eco—agriculture and throughout the sustainable food system. It has also made us acutely aware of the vulnerabilities of certain groups and sectors and of the inequalities affecting the food supply chain. The post—COVID recovery represents an opportunity to ‘build back better’. More sustainable, fairer and inclusive food systems should contribute to a well—being economy that works for people and the planet, leaving no one behind.

I welcome the experts' contribution to the development of AR6. Regarding the section ‘Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability’, the report shows: Up to 3.6 billion people live in environments highly vulnerable to climate change, and current types of unsustainable development increase the exposure of ecosystems and people to climate risks. One in three people are exposed to deadly heat stress, and one billion people living in coastal areas will be exposed to flooding by 2050. Wrong responses to the problem of tackling climate change can also lead to difficult problems related to vulnerability, exposure and risks that may be difficult to correct. The climate crisis is inseparable from the biodiversity crisis and the crises caused by the poverty and inequality suffered by billions of people. Political commitment, improved institutional framework, adequate financial resources together with continuous monitoring and evaluation of selected measures with the best available scientific knowledge at a given time and implemented are essential for the adaptation process and the achievement of climate resilience. In Romania, a large-scale effort is needed to develop, operationalise and implement adaptation measures at local level. Very few cities, towns and communities have updated adaptation plans.

Madam President, Commissioner Ferreira, Romania's treasury illegally detained by Russia is a dispute not very well known at international level, although Romania has consistently striven over the past hundred years to resolve the situation through bilateral diplomatic channels. Bringing the subject to the plenary session of the European Parliament and thus to the agenda of the Union is a political gesture that stands in the continuation of a century of constant efforts to correct an unjust situation. Romania has a fully valid historical and legal claim on its 91.5 ton gold deposit, as well as on some religious and archival objects evacuated to Moscow between 1916-1917, based on guarantees, in order to shelter them in the context of the First World War. The Soviet Union, and then Russia, have enjoyed and continue to enjoy the benefits generated by the use of these values, whether material or spiritual. But who does it surprise now, the brutal attitude, the brutal behavior of Moscow? What better proof to have that, regardless of the political regimes in Russia, its attitude remains the same? The debate on this subject in the plenary of the European Parliament is important from several perspectives. First of all, we want to bring to the attention of the public and European decision-makers this specific situation of Romania. We create the premises that if, after the end of Russia's war of aggression on Ukraine, there will be negotiations between the European Union and Russia, the subject of returning Romania's treasure should be included on the agenda of discussions by the European Union. We call for European solidarity, putting this topic on the agenda of the Union. We call on the Commission to cooperate with the Romanian State, the National Bank of Romania and other relevant institutions to mobilise coordinated efforts to return Romania's treasure without delay. The non-return of Romania's treasure by Russia is an attack on the national heritage, but also on the European one. Thus, as set out in the European Treaties, we must pay particular attention to the preservation of the national wealth of the Member States. In this regard, I appreciate and welcome the Union's substantial efforts in protecting national, cultural and historical heritage through the implementation of legislation and cooperation mechanisms governing the return of cultural and heritage objects unlawfully removed from the territory of the Member States. We also call on the European Commission to extend the scope of the Union's policies governing the protection of cultural goods to include the recovery of national wealth relocated in time of war under bilateral agreements. Dear colleagues, Romania has never given up its right and will never do so. There is only one solution: Russia should respect its obligations and the Union should stand by Romania through its institutions and demarches in order to put into practice what is right and legitimate.

Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, tomorrow’s AI act’s adoption is pivotal for European policymaking as it guarantees our rights and fosters innovation. As the TRAN Committee, we prioritise the safety and privacy of public transport users, as well as flexibility for small- and medium-sized enterprises. Therefore, we warmly welcome the establishment of stringent conditions for the further processing of personal data pertaining to the safety and resilience of transport systems and mobility within AI regulatory sandboxes. Moreover, granting priority access to regulatory sandboxes at minimal or proportionate costs for SMEs and aiming to minimise the administrative burden and compliance costs demonstrates our commitment to their success. The AI act will facilitate artificial intelligence development in sectors that directly bolster our citizens’ quality of life, especially in sectors like transport. I would like to congratulate the rapporteurs, and all the shadows and the Commission, for this important legislative act.

Mr President, Commissioner, Council, colleagues, as REGI rapporteur for an opinion with shared competence on the STEP file, I am very happy we achieved all our important issues in the negotiations with the Commission and the Council, obtaining the cap of 20 % of the allocation for financing step objectives from the ERDF and the Cohesion Fund. We obtained the addition on preserving the focus on small and medium enterprises. The REGI amendment on apprenticeships, jobs and education for new skills will be considered in the selection process. A derogation for the outermost regions, allowing for a 15 % flexibility between priorities, with additional special allocation in the ERDF priorities for the period 2014-2020. The option of amending the acting partnership agreement. 100 % EU financing rate for the last year of the 2014-2020 period. And I would like to take the opportunity to thank all my colleagues and staff involved in the negotiations from the European Parliament, Commission and Council. Thank you.

Mr President, dear all, dear Commissioner, with the rising energy prices, increased inflation and a struggling economy, it’s a difficult time for everyone. For those of us on lower incomes, including many social housing residents, this amount is nothing less than a cost of living crisis. According to the latest data available from 2020, almost 28 % of young people in the EU have been affected by overcrowded accommodation. Access to secure, affordable, long term housing is at crisis point across Europe. It is affecting our social and economic prosperity as well as social cohesion. Decent and affordable housing is a human right, not a market for speculation. The EU can and must play an important role for a more fair and inclusive housing landscape across Europe, and should properly regulate the European housing market. As young people tend to travel to big cities in search of good opportunities for their personal and professional development, they are also competing with the ever increasing market for short-term rentals for tourism. Therefore, the housing situation is having an enormous impact on young people’s mental health. Public intervention in the mortgage market is a pressing social justice imperative, and the key to fair wealth distribution to protect the most vulnerable and the young people. It is time to take action to ensure a financial and mental wellbeing of young people. The EU also needs to boost public investments in green and social housing. Let’s protect and support our young generation.

Madam President, Vice-President Šefčovič, Minister, dear colleagues, the European Council is the main political forum of European leaders. Beyond the agenda elements already agreed, topics of direct and immediate interest to the citizens of our countries should also be discussed at this level. Firstly, the difficulties we face at the level of expert meetings; for example, the JHA should find political solutions at the level of the European Council, and here I am talking about the full integration of Romania and Bulgaria into the Schengen area. Romania and Bulgaria are members of the Schengen Agreement who fulfil their contractual obligations but whose citizens are obstructed from enjoying their rights. Beyond everything else, the full integration of Romania and Bulgaria into Schengen is a moral issue, it is a matter of fairness and equal treatment of European citizens. Considering the MFF another subject which will be under the discussion in the EUCO. We need definitively a decision on the MFF revision and on the entire package. All the components of the MFF revision are absolutely necessary to respond more effectively to needs needs. We should ensure a Union budget that has the ability to respond to the needs, promote long-term investment, create quality jobs, as well as quickly react to unforeseen events. This is a top priority of the European Parliament. We also want to ensure the convergence of all regions across the Union and to stop any further attempts to take money from the Cohesion Policy and Common Agricultural Policy. We strongly oppose cuts in existing programmes and redeployments. The revision must ensure a stronger and more agile EU budget that meets the higher standards of transparency and democratic accountability. This is the moment where decisions are deemed necessary.

Madam Vice-President, Madam Secretary of State, dear colleagues, the enlargement of the European Union is not only about the admission of new Member States, about the acquis communautaire or about the Copenhagen criteria. Enlargement of the European Union is about reaching the potential of the European Union, it is about our positioning on the world map at a time of great tensions and strategic competitions. It's about people and the values they take on. We are at an inflection point in history and we must have the strength to make the right choices, but also to take the necessary efforts to put these decisions into practice. Moldova, Georgia, the Western Balkans and Ukraine have chosen the European path. These people, in many cases, paid the price of their choice with blood. The enlargement package proposed by the European Commission is the right gesture at the right time and has our full support.

Mr President, dear Vice-President Šefčovič, Minister, dear colleagues, in these difficult, sad and challenging times, only working together can we develop a dynamic, competitive and strong Europe. Therefore, a timely agreement on all the components of the MFF revision is necessary to respond more effectively to evolving needs, address funding gaps, and increase flexibility and crisis responsiveness. The revision must provide new funding for new political priorities and ensure a stronger EU budget. We call on the Council President for a real discussion and a decision in October’s EU Council to ensure that we have the MFF revision in place by the end of the year. Any delay on this will have consequences, as our budget for 2024 will be wholly inadequate to respond to our real needs. To this requirement is linked the EU cohesion policy as the EU is undergoing unprecedented transformation driven by the green, digital and social transition.

Madam President, as REGI rapporteur, I would like to underline that our committee expresses its support for the STEP objectives, notably to steer investments in deep, digital, clean and bio-technology by using cohesion policy funds. However, our position is to limit the use of these funds to a maximum of 20% of the allocation. This is deemed necessary in order not to undermine other cohesion policy objectives. I consider that in view of the exceptional circumstances and of the increased pressure on the managing authorities in the context of the closure of programmes for the period 2014-2020, it is necessary to extend the deadlines for submission of closure documentation. Therefore, we added an extension of the financial accounting year by 12 months until June 2025 and the financing of up to 100% from the EU budget in the final accounting year of the period. We look forward to starting negotiations with the Council very soon to reach a political agreement by the end of this year.

Madam President, the current Multiannual Financial Framework was adopted under completely different context: before the pandemic, before the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and all the other challenges to our Union that followed. To continue addressing the challenges of today and tomorrow, a timely agreement on all the components of the MFF revision is absolutely necessary to respond more effectively to evolving needs, address funding gaps and increased flexibility and crisis responses. The revision must provide new funding for new political priorities and ensure a stronger and more agile EU budget that meets the highest standards of transparency and democratic accountability. The Parliament is working hard and is committed to having a revised MFF in place on 1 January 2024. We call on the Council to show courage and responsibility and come to the negotiating table as soon as possible, as we urgently need to agree on increased means for our union in order to tackle together the crisis we are facing. We also want to accelerate the convergence of all regions of the Union and to stop any further attempts to deplete cohesion policy funding. It is crucial that the funding of cohesion policy remains adequate and is not undermined neither in the current MFF nor in the post 2027 MFF.

Madam President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, thank you for this debate, thank you for your comments and thank you for your support. I would like to tell you that all together we succeeded to provide an easily readable and commonly understood data shared by the national access points, with an appropriate user interface, securing communication between vehicles and infrastructure, which guarantees the reliability, accuracy and availability of data. Together, we succeeded to make substantial progress by establishing an ambitious geographical scope and timeline for the data and services to be provided. We need to make sure that the current and next-generation vehicles get the appropriate digital assistance everywhere. The authorities at all levels need to start preparing for the new digital era, as the entire transport network should contribute to the social, financial and environmental benefits. This direct directive will contribute to citizens’ safety on more secure roads, to significant improvements in performance of transport networks, operations and services, whilst fostering connectivity and facilitating cooperation. Thank you all and I invite you, dear colleagues, to support this text in order to make sure that we leave nobody and no region behind and do not create a new digital divide.

Madam President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, in the not so distant future, we can imagine that highly automated vehicles will share public space with various drones, but also vehicles with low automation levels. In such a world, traffic will be a challenge. These vehicles will need to be aware of each other’s position, direction and speed. They will need to trust each other in order to avoid very literally bumping into each other. This requires direct communication between different actors instantly and at any time. The first cars equipped for such a world are entering the European market right now, and the road operators are preparing their roads and starting to equip them for these new circumstances. The ITS Directive is part of a package of legislative initiatives aimed at contributing to reaching the goals of decarbonisation, digitalisation and a greater resilience in transport infrastructure. This directive was designed to be the framework for accelerating and coordinating the deployment and use of the ITS applied to road transport and its interfaces with other transport modes. A radical reform of the legislative framework was necessary to step up to the challenge of the current technological developments. We succeeded to reach an agreement on the ITS Directive on the second and last trilogue on 8 June this year. This result was reached due to the substantial evolution in the Council’s position since the first trilogue in December last year. Thanks to this work, to the valuable support and cooperation from the Commission and to the unity and ambition of the Parliament’s negotiating team, we were able to successfully close this negotiation. The most important elements obtained during the last trilogue are: the types of data and services to be made available are set out in Annex III and IV of the directive. Attached to all these data types are now deadlines by which all new information should be made available. Many data types also have a deadline for the stock of older data to be made available. In certain cases, for the data that are the most difficult to collect, the text still foresees the possibility to have delegated acts to define the deadline for the stock data. To be able to set deadlines, the text establishes differentiated geographical scopes for the different data types and sometimes within data types. For example, road closure should be made available by the end of 2025 for the TEN-T core network and by the end of 2026 for the comprehensive TEN-T network. Finally, the text introduces a review clause in 2028. We are aware that many people expected even more, but, despite the very narrow mandate of the Council, we were able to secure some additional gains during the trilogue, mainly focused on safety issues, in particular the speed limits and the parking spaces. We were able to obtain the following: on some data types, the Council had introduced a threshold of 8 500 vehicles for some primary roads and roads in urban nodes to be included. Parliament managed to lower this threshold to 7 000 vehicles for the roads concerned in urban nodes, therefore enlarging the geographical scope for several data types, including, but not limited to, speed limits. Regarding the dynamic data on availability of parking places, we obtained one year earlier implementation: instead of 31 December 2028, it will be 31 December 2027. Finally, we obtained the addition of a new recital encouraging Member States to make data accessible as soon as possible also for parts of the road network that are not within the geographical scope defined in Annex III. Dear colleagues, the agreement reached will contribute to citizens’ safety on more secure roads, to significant improvements in performance of transport networks, operations and services, while fostering connectivity and facilitating cooperation. Moreover, it initiates a process that will facilitate a faster deployment of intelligent transport systems. I would like to thank all shadow rapporteurs, the EP and the S&D secretariat, the Council and the European Commission for a very, very good collaboration towards a balanced and satisfactory text on this file.

Madam President, dear President von der Leyen, first I welcome your recognition that Romania and Bulgaria are part of Schengen. Let us say that today is the day for a commitment to Romania and Bulgaria in Schengen by the end of this mandate. (Applause) Second, you mentioned the important role of the European regions. Therefore, it is crucial to have a strong cohesion policy, strong cohesion funding, to ensure the convergence of all the regions within the European Union. Third, to continue addressing the challenges of today and tomorrow, a timely agreement on all the components of the MFF revisions is absolutely necessary. The Parliament is working hard and is committed to having a revised MFF in place on 1 January 2024, and we call on President Charles Michel to put the MFF on the European Council’s October agenda. We count on your support and leadership.

Mr President, Commissioner, of course we are talking about the need to finance the European Union budget sustainably, which requires a diversified and extensive set of own resources, because our needs are also very large, from securing energy supplies to ensuring that people have enough food, from countering the effects of the war on the border with the European Union to ensuring the strategic autonomy of the European Union, leaving no one behind. To do all this, we need investments, sustainable investments that take into account the social dimension and what is important for us is to fight against the social inequalities that exist at the societal level in the European Union. We need to come up with the right solutions that have a high distributional value and lead to this rise in inequality in the European Union.

Mr President, dear Vice-President Timmermans, dear colleagues, first of all, allow me to congratulate Ms Polfjärd for the report and also the cooperation during the negotiations. I would also like to thank our staff. Well, in the ozone-depleting substances field, more than 2 000 small- and medium-sized enterprises operate at EU level and it is important to strengthen the Commission proposal with the social dimension being in line with the European Pillar of Social Rights. On the other hand, introducing maximum emission levels and the schedule for phasing out for quantitative limits are important pieces of the emissions and pollutants package under the European Green Deal. The EU’s Ozone Regulation, we can say that this is one of the big success stories of the EU environmental policy and shows how excellent results can be achieved with clear, binding rules, which were missing over years and decades at the level of climate ambition, and in addition cementing Europe’s position as a global leader at the Montreal Protocol.

Mr President, I, too, would like to thank the Commissioner and the entire European Commission for their support for accession to the Schengen Area for Romania and Bulgaria, of course. I want to thank the Czech Presidency for its support and willingness to keep the European project united. But last week's behaviour by Austria's chancellor and her interior minister is an attack on the European project and a disregard for Romanians' rights. We cannot accept becoming trapped in a domestic policy game of a Member State. We will not suffer from Stockholm syndrome and we will not get to sympathize with those who keep us captive. We want the subject of Schengen to be discussed on the agenda of this week's European Council, because Romanians deserve respect, because Romania deserves to be in the Schengen area.

Mr President, dear Commissioner, Minister, the war in Ukraine and its consequences in Europe increased even further the need to support children in situations of poverty in Europe. Energy prices, food prices, all of those are affecting many children in Europe. Therefore, Europe must react. ESF+ is based on national pre-allocated financial envelopes. Such envelopes can only be increased by modifying the MFF. We call on the Commission to come with a proposal for a dedicated budget to turn the child guarantee into reality. This supplementary programme with a dedicated budget will complement the ESF+ with additional support for tackling child poverty on top of the national pre-allocated financial envelopes. This is not a new policy that would duplicate the existing ones, but a key EU-wide boost that would be essential for providing support and assistance to children in situations of poverty. Children are our future and no child should be left behind.

Madam President, Mr Vice-President, Minister Bek, we have not infrequently heard that Romania, together with Bulgaria, meets the technical criteria for accession to the Schengen area. We have been meeting the technical criteria for 11 years and this has been repeatedly confirmed by both the European Parliament and the European Commission. Romania continues to consistently implement and adapt to developments in the Schengen acquis, benefiting from access to the Schengen Information System and the Visa Information System. We have consistently demonstrated and demonstrated how responsibly we understood how to manage the external border of the Union, being the guarantor of security for 2 070 kilometres of border. The last months have brought us into the undesirable situation of proving that we can even adequately manage a crisis situation with over one million refugees who have already entered Romania, while respecting all Schengen rules in force. We have to be honest and admit, the repeated delays were for political reasons and the decision to be taken is a political one. We believe that we are at a time when the Union must understand that clear political gestures are needed, which eliminate any ambiguities, gestures that show the solidity of our common project, its credibility and that recognise the merits and efforts where they are made, in accordance with the provisions assumed by the Treaties. What do we want? We want by the end of this year to decide, obviously, positively in the Council, on the lifting of the border control between Romania and Bulgaria and the rest of the Schengen area, and this is only a compliance with the provisions of the Treaties, provisions that we assume and respect. Romania deserves, Romanians deserve to be treated equally as all other European citizens. Romania must enter the Schengen area! We want Romanians to move freely within the Schengen area, like all other European citizens.

Thank you, President. Dear Commissioner, I would like to thank you for the work you’ve done, you do, and you will do. And for the answer, of course, I know how many efforts are made. There is no question, but I would like to stress that we need to make sure that the demographic realities, such as depopulation, do not lead to polarisation, and that internal cohesion in the EU is not put under strain.

Commissioner, I am thankful for the commitment shown by you and the Commission on the depopulation issue, in particular, the inclusion in the 2022 Work Programme of the initiative on brain drain. I was leading the work within my political group to adopt a policy paper to find some of the answers to these challenges. One conclusion was that cooperation with citizens, civil society, small and medium enterprises, research and scientific institutions will be key to unleashing each territorial unit’s potential by making tailored solutions for all the different types of territories. And my question is: what is the assessment so far by the Commission on how Member States are using cohesion policy and addressing these issues in the partnership agreements? Are enough efforts being made? And can further improvements be made?

Madam President, President Von der Leyen, we welcome the concrete proposals that you have made today, but we need to act together immediately. In the field of energy, for example, the measures you have proposed, the Socialist Group has been asking for them for several months. Madam President, you cannot ask people to reduce consumption if we let the TTP market continue to speculate. Therefore, if we want to lower the bills for citizens, we need to stop speculation on the gas market through contracts spot. The second is Schengen. The Union is incomplete, Madam President. You have declared that Romania fulfils all the criteria for Schengen accession. We need the accession of Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia to the Schengen area, and I tell you that Romania applies the Schengen criteria every day to defend the eastern borders of the European Union. I ask that all these declarations be made a reality, so that Romania is in Schengen, along with Bulgaria and Croatia.

Madam President, Commissioner, I begin by congratulating the rapporteurs. It is a very good report, because, basically, the Resilience and Recovery Facility, a key instrument for investments and reforms, is the message of solidarity of the European Union to help citizens, but also companies, to mitigate the negative impact of the health crisis, but also everything that means the crisis that happened as a result of the Russian aggression in Ukraine. Of course we welcome "REPowerEU". It is an opportunity for the European Union to ensure its energy independence, but, Commissioner, I believe that the Commission needs more flexibility to enable Member States to readjust their national recovery and resilience plans to deal with these crises: inflation, rising prices, the energy crisis.

Mr President, dear Commissioner, it’s my turn now to congratulate the co-rapporteurs. We worked very well together in order to obtain a good result as a report, taking into account that this will represent the new mandate for the high-level political forum next month. Well, there are there are only eight years left to implement the SDGs until 2030 and we are facing increasing challenges. The SDGs’ implementation progress is dramatically damaged, as you said, by the current geopolitical, health and humanitarian crises. Therefore we must act to ensure that the social inequalities resulting from those crises and well-being- and economy-related impacts are minimised; that measures taken to protect the environment, climate and security are carried out in a socially fair and inclusive way, with a comprehensive mapping of the financial envelopes of EU policies, which have been reinforced by the additional Next Generation EU funds to create a greener, more digital and more resilient Europe, as well as the social and demographic priorities set by the SDGs and the European Pillar of Social Rights to be fully implemented. Furthermore, we must have a holistic approach to the SDGs in the EU, in the use of beyond—GDP indicators as well as reforming the European Semester to take due account of the SDGs.

Ukraine deserves to be granted candidate status, because Ukraine is going through a terrible war and we need to show solidarity with the Ukrainian people. The Republic of Moldova is equally exposed, and both states have done their lessons, so I hope that in the Council, in the coming days, this will happen, that they will be granted candidate status, and also that I congratulate the Commission on the recommendations it has made.