Debate contributions by Eugen TOMAC

Mr President, Commissioner, Europe is undergoing profound transformations - geopolitical, digital, ecological and demographic. But for millions of Europeans, and especially in Romania, the real test is much simpler. Does work still guarantee a decent living? For us, the answer must be clear: no working citizen should have difficulty paying their bills. Honest work should not condemn anyone to livelihoods, but give people the chance to live a dignified, stable and fulfilled life to the standards that Europe has assumed through the European Pillar of Social Rights. Eliminating labour poverty is not an ideological issue, it is a matter of fairness, competitiveness and social stability. Quality jobs, fair wages, as established by the directive on minimum wages, and real chances of professional development are the best social policy. At the same time, skills, upskilling and reskilling are essential to remain relevant in the labour market. In a rapidly changing economy, access to training must be open to all workers, regardless of age or training. Finally, Europe cannot achieve its social ambitions without adequate resources. A strong European Social Fund in the next Multiannual Financial Framework is indispensable, even if European directions and priorities change.

Madam President, Commissioner Kos, I want to congratulate you on the extraordinary work you are doing, because you are encouraging candidate countries to remain optimistic, but at the same time to respect the rules on which the European Union is based. It is one year since the tragedy in Novi Sad, a tragedy that tore Serbian society in two and highlighted a fair fight for values, not for political interests. What people are complaining about in Serbia are common sense and are the aspirations of a generation that wants Serbia to be part of Europe, that wants less corruption, that wants a rule of law and a society committed to the European path. The double standard applied by Belgrade does not work and should be discouraged and we encourage you to go along this line.

Mr President, Commissioner, following the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, not only the Baltic countries were annexed, but also the territory over the Prut of Romania in the Soviet Union. On this land, called Bessarabia, Stalin created a republic and, once it was created, deportations began, mass murders and Romanians in this area were subjected to a process of denationalization like never before in another area of the Soviet Union. With the collapse of the USSR, in order for the Republic of Moldova not to unite with Romania, Russia triggered the military conflict in Transnistria and since then maintains its illegal military presence precisely to keep the Republic of Moldova blocked. This explains why today Romanian is an official language of the European Union, and over 50% of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova are also citizens of the European Union through Romanian citizenship. Therefore, Russia does not allow Moldova to advance on the European path, and President Maia Sandu, today, has clearly demonstrated that Moscow's interference in the democratization process is extremely dangerous. Therefore, I ask you to fully support the process of European integration of the Republic of Moldova.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the Serbian people are a people with a European vocation. But what the politicians in Belgrade don't understand is that they have to give up. It is time to give up the duplicitous speech by which they say one thing and do another when discussing Serbia's European path. It is obvious that freedom of expression, fundamental rights must be guaranteed, and the practices that the current government applies in relation to its own citizens are reprehensible. You cannot be in the picture with Putin and at the same time lie to the citizens that you want European integration. That can't happen today. That is why I believe that we must stand by the citizens who want a European Serbia with us.

Mr President, Commissioner, the Republic of Moldova has been fighting for more than three decades to consolidate its European path, but Russia does not allow it, because since 1992, the army of the Russian Federation has been illegally stationed on the territory of the Republic of Moldova. Our response must be more support, strengthening the resistance of the Republic of Moldova in everything related to the propaganda and disinformation program that the Russian Federation constantly applies in the Republic of Moldova. The citizens of the Republic of Moldova passed the test of loyalty to the European project, because against the aggressive propaganda of the Russian Federation, last year they voted by referendum that the direction they want to follow is European integration. And our answer must be yes, European integration and not Putin, who wants to weaken the Republic of Moldova and abandon the European project. I congratulate you, Commissioner, on all that you have done for the Republic of Moldova to advance on the path of European integration.

Madam Vice-President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I am outraged when I hear in this House colleagues who claim that Russia had reasons to start this absurd war. No, no, no, no, no Russia must be condemned every day for the crimes committed in Ukraine, for the abducted children, for this absurd war that Putin started. Russia is violating international law. Russia has no respect for life. Russia does not respect human dignity. Russia does not respect democracy. And on the front in Ukraine, the citizens of this country are fighting with this flag behind them because they want to be part of the European Union, which irritates and revolts Putin. That is why I think it is essential that we stay with Ukraine and tell Putin that we will be there, as long as it takes.

Madam Vice-President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I am outraged when I hear in this House colleagues who claim that Russia had reasons to start this absurd war. No, no, no, no, no Russia must be condemned every day for the crimes committed in Ukraine, for the abducted children, for this absurd war that Putin started. Russia is violating international law. Russia has no respect for life. Russia does not respect human dignity. Russia does not respect democracy. And on the front in Ukraine, the citizens of this country are fighting with this flag behind them because they want to be part of the European Union, which irritates and revolts Putin. That is why I think it is essential that we stay with Ukraine and tell Putin that we will be there, as long as it takes.

Mr President, Commissioner, Europe is facing unprecedented challenges. We are facing tough global competition, with partners playing by other rules, and our citizens are feeling the full effects of instability: rising costs, insecure jobs, constant pressure on incomes. We cannot protect our standard of living without being competitive. This means policies that stimulate work, support companies that create value here in Europe, and invest in people with decent wages, fair conditions, real access to health services. We need to put competitiveness at the heart of our action, within the Union, but also vis-à-vis global partners. For this we need legislative coherence, rapid decisions and the ability to transform European funds into stable jobs and concrete solutions for citizens.

Mr President, Commissioner, Russia has never complied with the rules, as it does not comply with them today, as it did not comply with them even a century ago, when it confiscated the entire treasury of Romania. I am addressing the Commission, Commissioner, because a year ago I voted here in the European Parliament for a resolution on the illegal seizure of the entire treasury of the National Bank of Romania by Russia. The Commission is also obliged to use this instrument to block the assets of the Russian Federation in Europe, in order to be able to recover what belongs to us. The treasury of the National Bank of Romania has been illegally detained in Russia, and I think it is extremely important that we can recover our assets. I hope that the Commission will understand the political message that I sent here last year, with a large majority in the European Parliament, when I asked for the National Bank of Romania's treasure to be returned.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to congratulate the rapporteurs on this achievement. The Republic of Moldova was waiting for this message of support and I think it is an extremely strong commitment for the European Union's relationship with a future state of Europe, such as the Republic of Moldova. But, Commissioner, I want you to know, the Republic of Moldova is the only state in the immediate vicinity of the European Union, where over half of its citizens are already citizens of the European Union. So we have all the legitimacy to constantly worry about the future of the Republic of Moldova, to support it in the face of the challenges that constantly come from the Kremlin. It is also very good that you pay increased attention to the region illegally occupied by the army of the Russian Federation for more than 30 years. It is important for the Republic of Moldova to live in peace and benefit from the support of the European Union.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Vice-President Fitto, I have listened very carefully to the Commission's opinion. I'm surprised. You have rightly pointed out the effort that Finland, the Baltic countries, Poland are making to respond to Russia's challenges. But I am dissatisfied that you did not mention the country that has the largest border with Ukraine. There are 649 kilometers that Romania has with this country, brutally attacked by Putin, and our border, regularly, every month, is violated by drones that are sent to attack the border of the European Union with Ukraine. So we want the Commission to take a professional approach and invest more in defence. The time has come to act with great courage to stop what Putin is doing and I am dissatisfied that you have not specified the effort that Romania is making at the moment.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, innocent people had to die in the tragedy in Novi Sad in order to highlight a justified grievance that the citizens of Serbia are showing. As a democratic forum, the most representative of the European Union, the European Parliament is and must remain close to the voices awaiting change in Serbia's society. The government has shown in recent years that it has a duplicitous approach: He says he understands the European path, but is extremely faithful to the relationship with the Russian Federation. This double standard cannot work, and people in Serbia are eager to get rid of this double standard and apply the rules that govern all over Europe. This is what the politicians in Belgrade need to understand, and for this we need to stand by these voices of hope in Serbia.

Mr President, I want to briefly present what actually happened in Romania at the last presidential elections, because clearly the elections were influenced and there was a direct interest of the Russian Federation for this to happen. How? Very simple. It is impossible for a candidate with 5%, just two weeks before the elections, to reach the 9th place worldwide in video trends on TikTok, given that this app has one billion users. The only press that applauded this victory was the Moscow press. Putin himself criticized the authorities' decision to recount ballots. Russia's interest in placing a man at the head of the Romanian state was obvious and, at the moment, it is not what is happening in Romania that we need to debate, but what is happening with this platform in Europe, because democracy is really under threat.

Mr President, colleagues, the Republic of Moldova is the only state in Europe inhabited by a majority of citizens of the European Union, but it is outside the European Union. Through the Romanian citizenship acquired by the majority of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova, the Republic of Moldova has chosen its long-standing pro-European destiny. Now, Russia, which has illegally maintained a military presence on the territory of the Republic of Moldova for more than 30 years, is trying by all means to block the accession process of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union. The Kremlin has banned me from entering the Russian Federation because I said that Russia must leave the Republic of Moldova, and the Republic of Moldova, on October 20, will vote a referendum by which it will say yes to Europe and we must wait for it here, to support it unconditionally.

Madam President, Mr Vice-President, this debate is necessary primarily because it concerns a key area of European industry. Only if we look at the figures and the fact that more than 14 million European citizens are active in this field, it is essential to support this industry. But some answers are expected from the European Commission, because gold-plating, bureaucracy and the bold lack of direction for this key area are very discouraging and thought-provoking for this industry. That is why we believe it is essential for the Commission to come up with an ambitious plan in the next period to encourage this industry to be competitive and to be able to retain jobs in this transitional phase.

Madam President, I am pleased that after the people who will lead the European Parliament have been sworn in, the first resolution is the one on Ukraine. In recent years, in Parliament, we have given the signal of solidarity with the Ukrainian people, and it is extremely important to maintain this line, to fight for democracy, for freedom and to support those who today courageously defend their own country, but also Europe. Putin must know that no dictator has ever succeeded in defeating the will of the people to fight for freedom. Putin's place is in The Hague, and that's what we have to fight for.