Speeches

The next item is the debate on the Commission statement on the persistent problems of antisemitism in Europe and other forms of hate speech and hate crime (2024/2812(RSP)).

Madam President, colleagues, we are today in front of a key vote for the next European Commission but, I also must say, for how we would like to see the future of Europe. After seeing what happened today in the plenary, our Romanian PSD delegation calls for responsibility, while also underlining the priorities we have for the future Commission. We strongly believe more needs to be done in enabling this year the full accession of Romania to the Schengen Area. We also want to emphasise the need for better policies, allowing Europe to remain an economic leader, competitive, with a strong industry, dynamic SMEs and an adequate budget for the challenges we face. And we believe we can actively contribute to that. Last but not least, we need more support for farmers, rural areas and local investment. Equal pay for equal work also means fair subsidies for our farmers, while the cohesion policy needs to remain at the core of regional development. We want a Commission that is in contact with citizens and providing solutions to their need for better living conditions, and we believe we can work with you in doing that.

Madam President, High Representative. Europe and the United States have shown unity in supporting the independence of Ukraine in front of the Russian aggressor. Beyond the support that has been decided recently by both sides of the Atlantic, indispensable for Ukraine to survive and protect the eastern flank, one of the key measures is related to frozen assets. The EU today applies restrictive measures in respect of 20 individuals and entities. Altogether, EUR 21 billion in assets are frozen in the EU, and more than EUR 300 billion in assets from the Central Bank of Russia are blocked in the G7 and EU countries. Despite this fact, Russian oligarchs and entities still escape the imposed restrictive measures and more needs to be done in order to make sure that they are being applied effectively across Europe, including to those working or doing business with Russia. Now we need to make full use of these assets by using them to protect and reconstruct Ukraine, compensate the victims and support the frontline countries affected by the war. Those responsible for this war have to pay the cost, and we have to make sure, as legislators, that this happens as soon as possible.

Madam President, dear colleagues, European leaders are currently negotiating the strategic agenda for the next five years. It is time for them to understand that for a better future of the European Union, they need to get out of the chancelleries and talk to the people. Europeans want Europe to protect them, but they also want to be consulted by European leaders when decisions are made. We want Europe to prosper and live in peace, and this requires a strong economy and sustained entrepreneurs, investment in local development, education and health, increased local production and support for farmers, but also clear and simple mechanisms, respected by all, so that no one is left behind. We therefore need a European budget that has sufficient resources for all these challenges and solutions to fight poverty and reduce inequalities. For the Romanians I represent, it is crucial that this agenda of European leaders provides for Romania's full accession to the Schengen area. If we want a strong Europe, we need to bring the entire Union together in the Schengen area, and Romania's accession by land would bring a useful economic and competitiveness bust to all Member States.

Mr President, access to quality water is a right recognised at European level. Unfortunately, water has become a luxury for the inhabitants of Alba County. Considering the overvalued costs of the construction materials used, the huge salaries of the management of the county water company and the politicization of the management, it has come to be that in the beautiful Alba County, with many water resources, the prices for the population are higher than in the big cities, where the incomes are much higher. I decided to talk about these things in the plenary of the European Parliament, because local politicians erroneously blame the European Union, although I presented concrete solutions to all these problems, from the digitization of the company to the creation of a solidarity fund facilitated by European Union legislation. These things happen in the context in which the works performed are of poor quality, the water contains impurities that make it impossible to drink, and the rivers in the county are the victims of the polluters protected by the local mafia. We have asked the European Commission to verify these aspects and restore the right to quality water to the people of Alba.

Mr President, Romania has recently taken an important step towards joining the Schengen area. Romanians can now travel freely by plane, Romanian goods can be transported more easily by air and sea, our country can issue Schengen visas, and Romania has become a de facto member of the decision-making structures in the free movement zone. A moment expected for over 13 years, for which I actively campaigned alongside my colleagues from the Social Democratic Party and PES Activists Romania. We have submitted petitions supported by tens of thousands of signatures, generated resolutions of the European Parliament, discussed with all major European leaders and even protested in front of the Council. We are happy with this victory and continue to support full accession to the Schengen area, requesting a decision by the end of the year. In recent weeks, together with Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, I have discussed with the German Chancellor, the future Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Austrian Chancellor and the Head of the European Commission, to support Romania's accession to the Schengen area by land. Austria's right-wing government must stop politicizing the issue. I am confident that we will be able to achieve this goal by approaching this topic with professionalism.

Mr President, I would like to thank my fellow Members once again for all their contributions. This demonstrates the importance of this debate for the European Parliament, but also the complexity of the topics related to budgetary issues. It is clearly impossible to have a sufficient budget to cover all points. However, we need to define the priorities well in order to have the greatest impact. As many of you have said, the situation in the European Union, and therefore our budget, is influenced by the conflicts taking place in our neighbourhood. We are not the ones who started the war in Ukraine, but if we do not help Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, our lives will forever be changed and threatened by the barbaric attitude of the Moscow leadership. We help Moldovans and Ukrainians not only to save lives, but also to save our lives. Therefore, we must continue to show the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, the Eastern Balkan countries that we are here to help them become members of the European Union. The situation is just as complicated in the Middle East, and indeed there is no easy solution. What is clear is that our report tried to take into account all concerns in a consensual way in order to show that the European Union is present, without however turning into a foreign policy debate. Together we have managed to show that dialogue remains the best solution to give strength to our Parliament. By endorsing the priorities this afternoon, we are restoring credibility to our institution and demonstrating, before the elections, that we are able to live up to the justified expectations of our citizens, to work with them, to work for them, to take serious decisions in their interest and that of the Member States of the European Union.

Mr President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, I will start my intervention today by saying very clearly, the European Parliament must have guidelines for the next European budget, and our priorities are important and must be taken into consideration by the Commission and the EU Council. We have managed, after long discussions, to build a document that has clarity, that sets a vision for the upcoming EU budget and puts forward a clear direction for the negotiations that will take place between our institutions. I want to thank everyone involved and to reiterate my appreciation for the strong vote in favour of the report in the Budget Committee of the European Parliament. Our institution must show unity in saying that we need to allocate adequate financial resources for the priorities that are important to our EU citizens, for the development of our businesses, for a fair Europe that does not leave anyone behind. We need to support the creation of quality jobs while protecting our industry. We must help our farmers and continue to invest in our rural areas. We can develop our infrastructure while preserving the quality of our air and of our forests, at the same time as – this is important – protecting people against floods and droughts. For all of that, there are three key directions that need to be followed: using more effectively the funds that we have available; fighting against corruption; and focusing on the impact of our policies. We need to make full use of the unused funds from the previous financial period and allocate them to the beneficiaries and programmes that have a high absorption rate. We must allocate sufficient resources for our strategic priorities and for our new objectives. We need to make it happen. We can ensure adequate financial support for Erasmus students while investing in our economy. Finally, we need to keep the democratic control over the EU budget with a strong role of the European Parliament in order to deliver what people expect from us, by better including our social objectives in funding our programmes, or developing, for instance, the Civil Protection Mechanism. Sunt în mod particular mulțumit de introducerea în documentul nostru a unor aspecte care privesc direct zona pe care o reprezint și mă refer aici la România. Mă refer la apelul nostru pentru suplimentarea fondurilor în vederea aderării complete a României și Bulgariei la spațiul Schengen. Intrarea pe cale aeriană și maritimă în zona de liberă circulație la finalul acestei luni o să fie un succes și ne dorim să folosim acest moment pentru o decizie favorabilă pentru o aderare completă până la finalul anului. Totodată, subliniez importanța solicitării noastre privind sprijinirea sectorului agricol și a mediului rural. Trebuie să întărim programele de sprijin pentru fermieri, să îi ajutăm pe tinerii care activează în agricultură, să dezvoltăm satele folosind banii europeni și să ne asigurăm că subvențiile sunt distribuite echitabil și că ajung acolo unde trebuie. Toți cetățenii europeni trebuie tratați corect și trebuie să beneficieze de aceleași drepturi și oportunități. Am solicitat în document alocarea de fonduri suplimentare, astfel încât fiecare cetățean să aibă acces la tratamente și aparatură medicală de ultimă generație. O Europă puternică își protejează cetățenii și este evident că doar împreună putem să ne asigurăm de acest lucru. O dimensiune importantă a acțiunii europene constă și în facilitarea mobilității cetățenilor europeni. Îmbunătățind transferul drepturilor sociale și al pensiilor, reușim practic să ajutăm și mai mult diaspora europeană chiar să revină acasă. În final, Parlamentul European este ferm în a spune că ne dorim un buget orientat către cetățeni, care să conducă la creșterea nivelului de trai și la îmbunătățirea infrastructurii din orașele și satele noastre. Uniunea Europeană trebuie să utilizeze fondurile cât mai eficient, în așa fel încât să crească calitatea serviciilor medicale și educaționale, să se asigure că infrastructura devine un motor al dezvoltării și să faciliteze crearea de locuri de muncă bine plătite. Avem instrumente la dispoziție pentru a face acest lucru, dar este important să le folosim într-o manieră adecvată. Mesajul nostru către cetățenii europeni înaintea alegerilor pentru Parlamentul European trebuie să fie că putem să construim o Europă pe care ne-o dorim: democratică, socială și sustenabilă. Finally, I want to express our discontent when it comes to the recent positions expressed by some of the political groups, in particular the EPP, on some key topics for the European Parliament, including border management. There is no excuse for not respecting the agreement reached at the committee level with everyone’s support. We have one of the strongest languages on border management and security ever mentioned in the European Parliament budgetary guidelines. If we do not keep the line, if we do not keep the compromises, we cannot ensure a better and more secure Europe. I am confident that we are not going to lean towards the far right, but also focus – and this is a priority on the common – on the common objectives that are explicitly mentioned in the text.

Madam President, recently, a child in Blaj died as a result of not having access to the medical services she needs. As a father, I know there are no words to ease the pain. Unfortunately, this is not the only case. The number of medical problems has increased from year to year in Alba County, as health has been ignored or treated superficially. We don't have enough doctors, the funds allocated go to concrete and not to the right place. Although I am not responsible, I will apologize to the citizens of Alba County for the fact that the patients in the county are not treated as they deserve by the county and local authorities. I entered politics to change things for the better in the area of health and education, after I personally faced such injustices in the family. I discussed directly with the Minister and those responsible for obtaining additional funds for health for Alba County, for medical equipment, for the radiotherapy section, for supporting doctors, and as chief negotiator of the European Parliament for next year's budget, I called for increased funds for health and for the implementation of a principle whereby all states will have access to the most innovative treatments and medical devices.

Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, in order to meet the current challenges, an adequate budget is needed now. We cannot have new generations of sacrifice. As the European Parliament's rapporteur for the European Union budget, we have proposed to invest massively in the development of our industries, in agriculture or innovative sectors, in the security and resilience of our societies or in the proper training of citizens. There are many positive examples of using European money. For example, through the efforts of the government in Bucharest, 96% of the funds available from the previous period were accessed and I am convinced that for the current multiannual budget we will be in the first place, having already managed to have projects worth over 20 billion euros. At the same time, we must allocate the necessary funds so that Ukraine does not lose this war. If Russia reaches Romania's borders, the situation will become more difficult. If we do not demonstrate unity, the current costs will seem insignificant compared to the price we will pay if Putin is allowed to win, in violation of international law and human rights. Without using big words, I say clearly: our common future depends on the European budget.

Mr. President, Alba County deserves more and maybe much better. For 20 years there has been no real vision of development. The current mafia that controls Alba County using the practices of the 1990s imposes itself through threats and abuses. We proposed a detailed plan for Alba, which would bring in over 1.5 billion euros in the next ten years. We will build new medical units, we will develop the infrastructure in the Apuseni Mountains, we will reduce the price of water and garbage, we will create well-paid jobs in all areas of the county. PSD has always fought for Alba. We are the initiators of the radiotherapy department in Alba Iulia, of the heliport for emergency interventions in Apuseni, of the industrial park in Sebes, of the highway projects in the county, of the Youth Center in Teius. We also managed, through direct allocations, including using European money or the local development program, to finance each community, including the infrastructure in Alba Iulia or the projects within the Centenary of the Great Union. PSD is the real and credible alternative to PNL in Alba County and we will demonstrate with professionalism that we can develop the county and make it better known at national and European level.

Mr. President, dear colleagues, 17 years after joining the European Union and 20 years after joining NATO, it is time for Romania to assume with maturity its membership in the two organizations. By joining the EU and NATO, Romania's population is protected against the threats posed by the Russian Federation, has had access to billions of euros for the development of the country and has benefited from several rights and opportunities. The Romanian people must defend this hard-won right against the extremist leaders of the AUR and the SOS, who would do anything to get us out of the EU and NATO. We must defend the sovereignty of Romanians by introducing EU and NATO membership in the Romanian Constitution, because this is the only way we can avoid extremist parties manipulating Parliament in the future in adopting a decision to leave the two structures, which is catastrophic from an economic and social point of view. Isolation, in fact, is poverty. The solution is to professionally strengthen Romania's profile in the EU and NATO in order to make them more efficient and closer to the needs of Romanians. I say firmly: I oppose extremism, I am Anti-Ro-Exit.

Madam President, Commissioner, farmers all over Europe and in my country, Romania, need the support of the European Union. You need to get out of the ivory tower and talk directly with the farmers and people living in the countryside. You can no longer impose things on them without talking to them. Farming without farmers does not exist. I have requested, in my capacity as responsible for the European budget, additional funds for agriculture and rural areas. We have obtained tens of millions of euros, but the need is much greater. Unfortunately, there was insufficient support for this area. Even you, as a representative of the anti-European conservative group to which the Gold Party belongs in Romania, are responsible for this failure. Through the petition #SateRomâneștiCuBaniEuropeanni, officially recognized by the European Parliament, we have been exposing the wishes of Romanian farmers since last summer. One of the requirements was that the subsidies received should be equal at European level. We must support the modernisation of agriculture and give more support to young farmers and all those living in rural areas. We want a decent life for European farmers.

Mr President, dear colleagues, Commissioner, the European Union needs regulations for a European citizenship in the true sense of the word. Almost five years ago I started a campaign together with my colleagues from PES activists Romania, during which I collected tens of thousands of signatures from Romanians who support European citizenship. It is clear that all citizens in the Member States must enjoy all rights and be treated equally, wherever they are in the European Union. We need to ensure that documents and studies are fully recognised, that social rights and benefits can be easily transferred, including pensions and child benefits, that there are no more differences in treatment and that intra-European mobility is full. Romanians, Italians or Swedes are all Europeans, and this requires knowing our rights, as well as how the European Union works. I therefore propose the creation of a common European programme on education about Europe, which is essential for the future of the EU. If you have well-informed European citizens, we will have a truly strong Europe and Member States.

Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, after 13 years of waiting, Romania's actual accession to the Schengen Area will begin in March this year. The process will start first with air and sea routes as well as consular mechanisms. Basically, starting with March, we will be able to travel by plane without the identity documents being checked. The goods will be able to travel by sea without additional filters and Romania will issue Schengen visas. Italy, Austria and Greece also entered in two stages. Being part of the decision-making process of the free movement zone, Romania thus enters into an irreversible process of accession to the Schengen area. I call on the European partners to continue their joint efforts in order for Romania's full accession to the Schengen area to be achieved as agreed, as soon as possible. I welcome the efforts made by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu to achieve this objective and I thank my colleagues from PES activists Romania for everything they have done in recent years to convince the Member States that Romanians deserve in Schengen.

Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, this report is key for the interinstitutional framework of the European Union, respect for the principle of mutual sincere cooperation and the role of the European Parliament. In the document – approved with a large majority in the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, with the wide support of the shadow rapporteurs, which I very much appreciated – we clearly say that decisions at EU level should not be delayed or blocked by an unjustified veto, as they were, for instance, in the last 13 years regarding the Schengen enlargement with Romania and Bulgaria. We also state that the Council needs to respect the recommendations and the rules of the Commission and of Parliament, and to engage in an open and constructive dialogue. Moreover, we need legal clarity on the use of special legislative procedures to prevent institutional blockages. Finally, and this is of crucial importance, Parliament calls upon Member States to give justification to their vetoes and votes, which should have legal explanations correlated to Treaty provisions and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, and that should be in full accordance with EU values. This is fundamental for full respect of the mutual sincere cooperation principle and the rights of all EU citizens. That is why our report calls upon the European Parliament to seize the Court of Justice of the European Union when a vote or a decision does not respect these key principles of the European Union. I am also glad that this report strongly supports the accession of Romania and Bulgaria into the Schengen Area, calling for an immediate decision in favour of both countries. And we all agreed that both countries respect all the criteria and a decision should be made soon. Beyond the important legal clarification it provides, the report represents a clear political message that we are all defending the key role of our institution of the European Parliament and of the Treaties. Therefore, I call upon you to keep the strong consensus we reached in the committee and vote in favour of this report.

Mr President, dear colleagues, Europe needs the US to be strong and the United States needs a united and democratic European Union. The US can and should count on Europe to be at its side in fighting for democracy against authoritarian leaders that seek to control the world or destroy Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. In the same time, we need the US to remain faithful to its Euro-Atlantic commitments, its support for NATO, and in being a stable, fair and trustworthy partner. For that, we have to strengthen the existing dialogue and collaboration formats by making them unbreakable and beyond political cycles. We need facts. We need to update our cooperation framework and to re-establish our strategic partnership at all levels – political, defence, economic and social. All EU members should be involved in order to empower the process and give ownership to everyone. The European Parliament actively supports a new, more integrated dimension of our US-EU cooperation. An example of this positive step forward was achieved recently for my country Romania, where together, in partnership, the US and EU offered the possibility to get access, hopefully soon, to the Schengen Area. We have to continue showing that we can achieve great things together. I am confident we will.

Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, the chances of Romania entering the Schengen area, at least by air, have increased as a result of the adoption of a more flexible position by the Netherlands and Austria. Romania's accession to the Schengen area by air is an advantage for our country and a first stage in the process of full accession to the free movement zone, because Romanians deserve to be in Schengen. Romanian citizens will move more easily to other states in the Schengen area, earning a right they deserved. Romanians in the diaspora can return home more easily, benefiting from the many existing airports in Romania, which are now in the process of modernization. Romania will be able to transport more easily in the Schengen area products of utmost necessity, parcels or even use emergency transport using the air channel. Our country will hopefully become more attractive for investments, foreign investors and tourists. After almost 13 years of waiting, there is finally a change that many considered impossible, a hard-won step forward, a right of Romanians that no one can and should question.

Madam President, dear colleagues, we have a few months until the next European elections and things are looking worrying. In the face of losing credibility, it takes courage and leadership to convince citizens to vote. Citizens need to see the strength of their vote, they need to know the European political parties, but also their common candidates for the leadership of the European Commission. At the same time, I propose a ban on political trajectory at European level. Too many MEPs elected in a European political family have migrated to another European political group. Through their decisions, they have undermined the credibility of the European elections and betrayed the trust of citizens. Europe and the European Parliament must set the tone and regain trust in European democracy. With more transparency and clear rules, we can ensure that citizens trust the way the European Union works. Our joint proposals presented here add to the efficiency of the European Parliament elections and, in this context, I propose that we support them together.

Madam President, dear Prime Minister, dear Deputy Prime Minister, Romania and Bulgaria deserve to be accepted to the Schengen Area, and this needs to happen fully, and it needs to happen now. It is unacceptable for our two countries to be left out, even though we fulfil all the Schengen criteria, and we have efficiently protected the European borders for so many years. We live, dear Prime Minister, in a difficult region, but we have always defended European values and the cohesion of our Union. We did that during difficult times in the Western Balkans. We helped build a safe Black Sea region, while maintaining a good relationship with Turkey, Georgia and the countries in the Black Sea. We are proving it once more today with the support provided to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. Romania and Bulgaria are not second-rank Members, and people should stop looking at us this way. That is why I call upon the EU leaders to support our accession to Schengen all the way: by having a vote by the end of the year, in order to show that respecting the rules in the EU pays off.

Mr President, Commissioner, dear fellow Members, Europe is in crisis. It's not just a statement, it's a fact. The European Union today does not have the resources to face the current challenges, whether we are talking about the war in Ukraine or rising prices, whether we are talking about migration or the digital or green transitions. The European Union's budget for next year is simply insufficient for our shared ambitions. While our global competitors are pumping huge sums into their economies, supporting their SMEs or farmers, Europe is on the brakes of populists and has a purely bureaucratic approach. I reiterate the European Parliament's call for a swift revision of the long-term European budget so that Europe has the necessary resources. In the 2024 budget, the European Social Democrats requested and obtained an increase in funds for agriculture, especially for young farmers, additional funds for education, research and youth, financial resources dedicated to the transport sector, with reference to the north-east of Romania and the infrastructure in the Danube area, support for emergency intervention mechanisms, but also for programmes dedicated to health, financing the enlargement of the Schengen area, including Romania and Bulgaria, protecting the external borders and securing our external action, especially in the Republic of Moldova, supporting social and support policies for the most disadvantaged. These core objectives of the Union need to continue to be adequately supported. The figures have no value if the implementation of programmes and projects does not lead to a better life. We call on the European Commission to increase the quality of its actions so that people can directly feel the benefits generated by the EU budget.

Mr President, dear colleagues, I am proud to represent Alba County, Transylvania and Romania in the European Parliament and to fight for our country as Quaestor, the most important position Romania currently holds in the European legislature. I believe that our country must have a strong voice in the European decision-making process. I want to assure Romanians, and especially the citizens of Alba County, that they have in me a MEP who advocates for their rights, for the allocation of additional European funds, for the preservation of cultural heritage, such as the one in Alba Iulia, the Apuseni Mountains or in the area of Blaj, Aiud, Cugirul or Sebeș, for supporting Romanian states and young people, for respecting the dignity of Romanians in the European Union. It is up to us to seize European opportunities to develop our communities. Unfortunately, in too many areas of Romania and Alba County this opportunity was not used properly, although we have positive examples in certain localities. My door always remains open to all those who campaign for a strong Romania in the EU and for Alba County, truly modern and European.