Speeches

Dear Members, this is an evacuation exercise, so please follow the instructions and exit the Chamber in an orderly fashion. The sitting is suspended and will resume after the exercise is concluded.

The next item is the debate on the Council and Commission statements on the escalation of the war and the humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan (2025/2984(RSP)).

We have finished with the interventions on behalf of the European Parliament. I also join many of the voices here in the House congratulating and thanking our rapporteurs, Mr Halicki and Mr Nemec.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, Madam Vice-President, the European Union budget for 2026 is not just a technical document, it is a commitment to the millions of Europeans who, in uncertain times, expect stability, real opportunities and protection. People want safe communities, decent jobs, quality public services and the right path to build their future. And this budget is made exactly on these priorities. As a member of the European Parliament’s negotiating team, I worked to obtain funding that influences citizens’ daily lives. We have strengthened support for farmers, increased funding for hospitals and schools, strengthened investments in digitalisation and cybersecurity, and supported the development of the only European structure hosted in Bucharest, the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre. And I am also proud that we managed to launch a pilot project for Via Transilvanica, which highlights the Romanian cultural heritage and supports rural development. But Europe needs to do more. The next Multiannual Financial Framework must be stronger, more flexible and people-centred. Our responsibility is for every euro to work for the benefit of citizens. We must give the European Union the future it deserves.

Madam President, dear colleagues, Europe is going through a decisive moment. Faced with worsened economic pressures, we must show that European unity is not just a phrase, but a real force. Our direction must be clear: a Europe able to defend itself, with reduced strategic dependencies and investment in industry, energy and competitiveness. But these goals, dear representatives of the Council and of the European Commission, cannot be achieved without an adequate European budget and a strong social dimension. You seem to forget that. This includes a deal on the Russian frozen assets. We need lower energy prices, a fair digital transition, less bureaucracy and access to housing and decent jobs for all Europeans. For our neighbours, from the Republic of Moldova to the Western Balkans, we must send a clear message: Europe remains open, united and committed to democratic enlargement as soon as possible, so stop blocking the process. This is the Europe I believe in – a strong, fair and united Europe ready to defend these values through action, not only through words.

Mr President, Commissioner, the European Union's budget for 2026 is not just about figures, but about where Europe is going. I have proposed in Parliament’s position concrete measures for a safer, fairer and more prepared Europe for the challenges of the future. Firstly, the creation of the European maritime security hub at the Black Sea, an essential initiative to protect energy and trade routes, but also to strengthen the European presence in an area of strategic importance. I also managed to include through my amendments in the position of the European Parliament more than EUR 250 million in additional allocations for key areas such as research, energy, agriculture, health, education and support for young people and SMEs. We said no to austerity and asked for more resources, including for new pilot projects, such as the one on financing tourist routes, such as Via Transilvanica. Europe needs a bold budget that invests in people, provides stability and protection for its citizens, and leaves no region and no person behind.

Mr President, Europe must rebuild its trust through concrete solutions and a well-executed agenda. In 2026, our priorities must be education, health, digitalisation and access to housing, all underpinned by a fair and courageous budget. Education is the basis for any progress and that is why it is important to discuss the future of Erasmus+. At the same time, in the area of health we see a proposal for the European Global Health Resilience Facility, and this is crucial to strengthen the capacity of Member States to produce essential medicines and provide affordable treatments for all. At the same time, many proposals refer to the future Multiannual Financial Framework and we repeat that we support a dedicated budget for people that will create jobs, support public services and make all our communities stronger. But the future of Europe also depends on digitalisation, some concrete proposals that will advance the European economy. Last but not least, we support this idea of coming up with a concrete proposal on access to decent housing. So the Europe we are fighting for is one that educates, protects and innovates and gives dignity.

The next item is the report by Sandro Gozi, on behalf of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, on institutional consequences of the EU enlargement negotiations (2025/2041(INI)) (A10-0177/2025).

The next vote is on a new legislative framework for products that is fit for the digital and sustainable transition (see minutes, item 6.12).

The next vote is on the General Data Protection Regulation: additional procedural rules relating to the enforcement of the Regulation (see minutes, item 6.8).

The next vote is on re-attribution of scientific and technical tasks and improving cooperation among Union agencies in the area of chemicals (see minutes, item 6.7).

The next vote is on a common data platform on chemicals, establishing a monitoring and outlook framework for chemicals (see minutes, item 6.5).

The first vote is on the request by the ENVI Committee for urgent procedure concerning the dates of application and transitional provisions for chemical products (see minutes, item 6.1).