Speeches

Mr President, Commissioner, at this very moment we are noticing how the website of the European Parliament is no longer working. Just hours after we voted on this resolution declaring Russia a state sponsor of terrorism. I do not believe in coincidences, I hope so, but it is extremely serious if we do not understand that what Putin is doing today, if we do not stop him at the right time and do not support the Ukrainians to the end, can mean a much greater loss later. These people have killed in recent months at least 22,000 citizens in Mariupol, a city with over half a million citizens, where they destroyed everything 95%. At this time, when we are debating in Parliament, Ukraine is under attack, all energy infrastructure is under attack. I think we do not need more arguments to go all the way and support them and, obviously, support the reconstruction of this country affected by a state that supports terrorism.

Mr High Representative, 6.5 million tonnes of grain passed through Romania, taken from Ukraine and transferred further. Just a few days ago, a new border crossing point was inaugurated on the north of the country, in relation to Ukraine, in order to be able to help them even more. But the question I raise is the following. The Russian Federation is conducting an extremely aggressive disinformation campaign in many states in the Middle East or Africa, which puts us in an extremely delicate situation. Given that we are helping the grain from Ukraine to get where it is needed, to its destination, Russia, however, is conducting a disinformation campaign, trying to present the distorted reality and I believe that more communication is needed here in order to be able to explain that we are helping, not Russia.

Madam President, I think it is a historic vote, it is an extremely important vote for Croatia. I gave it with all my conviction, because I very much want Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria to achieve this goal of a step of deeper integration into the European Union this year. The European Union has always overcome its problems related to internal crises when it took courageous decisions, either through enlargement or through more integration, and I believe that Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania must integrate this year into the Schengen area, because this is how we can also help the states in our immediate vicinity, exposed to these threats constantly coming from the Russian Federation. I very much want Croatia to enjoy, like all other states, free movement, because it is a Treaty right. It is an obligation of the Council to take this implementation forward, because, unfortunately, Romania and Bulgaria have been unjustly blocked in the Council of the European Union for more than 11 years.

Madam President, the national recovery and resilience plans, created in response to the coronavirus pandemic and the consequences that this pandemic has produced, have produced positive consequences among Member States. But it was not only the health crisis that hit the European Union. We have the security crisis triggered by the Russian Federation and we also have an energy crisis that was also triggered by the Kremlin and with the aim of blackmailing the European Union. We need new mechanisms to support Member States to help citizens cope with these unprecedented increases and, obviously, to create new mechanisms to protect the internal market and, obviously, solutions that allow us to be totally energy independent in the future, not to depend for a moment on energy sources coming from the Russian Federation.

Madam President, I believe that the European Union has an obligation to protect its citizens from cybercrime, and I have noticed during this period, when Russia is waging several wars on several fronts, including attacking the critical infrastructure of the European Union repeatedly through cyberattacks. That is why I believe that it is essential to strengthen the legal framework at European level for ensuring cyber security. That is why I voted with all conviction and I believe that rigorous regulation is absolutely necessary, guaranteeing us a safe and trustworthy digital environment and guaranteeing all European citizens essential services for the functioning of the digital single market and critical infrastructures, because it is absolutely important to avoid any hostile attack by state actors.

Mr President, Commissioner, I want to talk about Schengen, because I find it unacceptable that in a time full of challenges, when the security crisis has produced dramatic effects for all the states of the European Union, our country, Romania, but also Bulgaria and Croatia, are still kept outside the borders of the European Union. This is unacceptable, given that Parliament has said green for Romania five times to join the Schengen area. The European Commission considers that we meet all the criteria, but the Council of the European Union questions the Treaty of the European Union and discriminates against a country that meets all the criteria and wants to become a member of the Schengen area. This behaviour is unacceptable and I believe that Member States should abandon internal political games with a stake in interests linked to the Union's strategy and the Union's policies on free movement.

Mr. Bogdan, you mentioned that we are exposed to an entire disinformation campaign. What the Commission and the Council should do to support Member States and candidate countries in dealing with these disinformation campaigns; and fake news Who is based in Moscow?

Madam President, I am outraged by the labels that some politicians, extremely limited in seeing what is happening around us, put on us, because it is unacceptable to sanction an entire nation, a nation of 22 million citizens, just for a small agenda, a narrow internal agenda, and from this point of view I believe that the message that the European Parliament sent today, in which we ask for something extremely clear, is essential. European solidarity has often been talked about, but it cannot function unidirectionally, because it is fundamental to comply with the Treaty of the European Union, and Romania, as a country that can manage, and has demonstrated this, the border of the European Union in an unprecedented crisis at the eastern border, must and deserves to enter this year the Schengen area.

Madam President, Commissioner, Putin has blood on his hands, he is the main culprit for the massacre in Ukraine, for the invasion against a people who did not provoke him. He is responsible for the multiple crises facing the European continent, starting with the security crisis, the humanitarian crisis and, obviously, the energy crisis. This man was inspired by Stalin's theses to put Europe in an impossible situation today, but it is essential to remain united, to act against this tyrant by all means at our disposal. Russia must understand that it can no longer threaten and hold free nations in the form of blackmail and pressure, and it is essential to support Ukrainians in this unjust war that the criminal Putin has unleashed.

Madam President, I am glad that this debate exists, because I believe that we have an obligation to think much more proactively, much more mature and much more involved, because it is a problem that already deserves a European response. Technological advances allow us today to create tools through which we can protect children much better. And I think that in Europe today, when we hear about missing children, children who are victims of human trafficking, children who are sexually abused, we are shaken. That is why we need this European response, tools through which we can protect them, to be able to identify them much faster and obviously, to dismantle all these networks that, unfortunately, create dramas, because these innocent beings are victims of these groups that we have to annihilate and, obviously, to protect children.

Mr President, Commissioner, I have been in Ukraine since the first days of Putin's war. I have often been to many regions in recent months, precisely to be with people who are in danger. I brought into my home six children and three mothers who had fled the war. I know very well what is happening there, but it seems to me that we are putting the problem wrong, because the tyrant Putin started this war trying to sanction Ukrainians precisely because they want to become members of the European Union. I want to get rid of this pressure that Moscow is constantly putting, and I think it is essential to understand that the seven million Ukrainian citizens have not left their country well, and today tens of thousands of people are simply killed just because they had this European dream. I think we should understand the essence of this war and stop being so reluctant to support them.

Mr President, Commissioner Hahn, obviously all hopes are for the budget of the European Union in these difficult times for the European Union. After the health crisis, we found ourselves in this war that has put European security to the test. Of course, war alone was not enough. We have this energy crisis. And I call on you to do so, Commissioner, because you understand very well the challenges to which the states in the immediate neighbourhood of the European Union are exposed. You were recently in Chisinau, you assured President Maia Sandu of the support of the European Union. The Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia and the other states need the support of the European Union to overcome all these challenges coming from Moscow, to keep them in its area of influence. We have an obligation to maintain the same pace of financial support for these states.

Mr President, dear colleagues, I am deeply disgusted by the way in which characters, otherwise political nullities, are parading through this Parliament, who can afford to spread lies and disinformation that Putin probably likes. Recently, in this room, a gentleman named Reil, a political nullity, has allowed himself to say that Romania and Bulgaria do not deserve to be accepted into Schengen. It seems to me an unacceptable affront, because we are a strong nation, a European nation, and perhaps that gentleman, when he visited our country, walked at night on the most beautiful road in the world, such as Transfăgărăşan, and obviously he saw nothing. But we are a nation that knows what we want and deserves to fight further to be accepted into the Schengen area. And, obviously, we will not fall into the trap of populism and demagogy that some are practising in this House.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I believe that it is absolutely essential during this period to match the European agenda to the needs of European citizens. The war crisis, the energy crisis, inflation have placed huge challenges on the table of European decision-makers. That is why I believe that the policies that the Commission is preparing must meet these expectations, because people have very high bills, they have extra working hours, but much lower incomes in relation to their needs. That is why I believe it is essential to understand that we can combat poverty and protect jobs through investments and policies adapted to the needs of today's society.

Mr President, Commissioner, honourable colleagues, it has been five years since this assassination that has amazed us all, but in these five years, seven other journalists have left us and sacrificed themselves, putting themselves in the service of the truth and trying to present to the public what is happening around them. Today, unfortunately, there are other journalists who are in a situation of being threatened. Even in my country, in Romania, there are journalists who are persecuted, they are blackmailed, they are threatened and I think we need legislation that protects much better those who fight against those who think they are above the law, I believe that, through the resources they have, they can influence the life and destiny of honest people in Europe.

Madam President, Commissioner, I believe that this figure of over 95 million European citizens who are at the edge of poverty is an alarming one. I come from a country where the percentage is much higher, in Romania, because we still have citizens who need consistent support from the state, from the European Union. I believe that our anti-poverty policies need to focus much more on education, integration into the labour market and obviously much more resources to prepare the next generation, because unfortunately people give up very easily when they are struggling with poverty, quality health care, education, and these things produce effects in the medium and long term. We need more ambition and determination to fight poverty.

Mr President, I believe that a country of 84 million citizens is experiencing historic moments and I believe that the death, far too early, of Mahsa Amini is, in fact, a protest initiated out of conviction for gaining the right to life in this country where crimes are committed, where atrocities are committed, where, in the name of imagined ideas, the state represses its own population. We have an obligation to send them a message of solidarity, of support, for all those who want this state that Iran is going through to end. There are people who have undertaken, at the risk of losing their own lives, to fight for values that we cherish and which are the foundation of the free world. This is what we have to fight for, this is what we voted for.

Mr President, I think we need to learn an extremely important lesson from this health crisis, namely, prevention. The European Union, all the Member States, have been taken by surprise by the pandemic and I think it is essential to understand that, united, we have been able to face these challenges and in the future we need a common European policy on managing these crises, but I do not know whether we would win the battle with propaganda, because our states are still divided and our citizens are very easily misled. That is precisely why I believe that we need instruments by which to eliminate this propaganda or not to make it so visible and highly influential in terms of public perception in the Member States. That's what I think we need to do in the next period.

Mr President, Commissioner, Minister, I ask this question: who does it serve to keep outside the borders of the European Union, Romania and Bulgaria? Does it serve the European Commission? Is it in the interest of the European Parliament? Is it in the interest of the citizens of the European Union? I think it is fundamentally wrong when, for small political reasons, two nations are unjustifiably, incorrectly kept at the gates of the European Union. We are European citizens and we have confirmed this. More than a million citizens of Ukraine have crossed Romania's borders in this absurd invasion triggered by Putin. More than 4,000 children without parents were welcomed by Romanian police at EU border points. We have the right to be treated fairly. And I make this appeal once again, ending with the phrase: to whom does it serve to keep Bulgaria and Romania outside the borders of the European Union?

Mr President, I think it's no longer a secret to anyone that Putin has compromised himself forever and is trying to permanently compromise any relationship that we can build after the conclusion of peace with Russia. I think the time has come to stay much more united, much stronger in any direction related to Ukraine, because Putin failed to achieve his goal of annexing Ukraine only in a few weeks, because we were united. Today, Ukraine's military is much more determined, much better organized, much more mobilized, precisely because it feels our support, and Putin is increasingly confused and constantly threatens with nuclear weapons. I think the time is coming when this tyrant will understand that he can no longer continue with this policy of terror and blackmail. It is time to remain more united, more solidary, and more determined to face this tyrant.

Madam President, I want to bring up an important topic. Obviously, during this period we are all focusing on the energy crisis and trying to help European citizens. We have recently adopted the European Directive on the establishment of the European minimum wage, and it is an important step, because we need to align wages at European level on sound criteria of economic performance. But I want to raise another topic that seems extremely important to me, especially given that we have hundreds of millions of citizens in need of support and in times of crisis, vulnerable people need to be helped. I think it's time to talk about the European minimum pension. We have millions of citizens living an extremely critical life, a life of deprivation, and we, at European level, need to establish this European minimum pension. In my country we have 5 million pensioners and many of them have a pension of only 200 euros and I think it is important that the minimum European pension also benefits European citizens who do not live in Europe, because they are citizens of the European Union. We need this debate.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I congratulate the rapporteurs. It is an extremely important topic for us, in the context in which we find ourselves, and I believe it is essential that the Regulation on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations of 2014 be reformed. We need a comprehensive legal framework that ensures the highest standards of functioning and financing of political families in the European Union, and the most important aspect I want to point out is transparency, because we see, there is no novelty, that our democracy is attacked through political intermediaries by those who want to shake European democracy, and Putin is a specialist in this. It supports extremist parties, encourages anti-European movements and we need mechanisms to protect our political identity, democracy, freedoms and the values that underpin our European project that will go forward. And I am absolutely convinced that both Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, which have suffered because there have been these permanent interferences, will be part of the European project and they also need these mechanisms that we are currently working on.

Mr President, Europe is at a turning point and at a time of green, energy, digital and social transition. It is time to integrate all these ambitions into the daily lives of Europeans, and the normalisation of these changes must also be done through culture and the arts. Culture contributes significantly to a vibrant society, allowing us to live better together, to build democratic and free societies, to regain a sense of common identity and belonging. Moreover, culture is a strategic sector in which to invest continuously, as it makes an important contribution to strengthening the economy and employment. It is only through culture and social activities that we can firmly combat the extremism and extreme polarisation that our societies are currently facing.

Mr President, the European Commission, including through the NRRP packages, has proposed measures to effectively address the energy crisis that we are all going through, so that we are also well in winter. What is the Romanian Government doing with these investment opportunities in energy infrastructure? How does it exploit the possibility of ensuring Romanians a decent winter with European money? Where does the country project for energy independence and sufficiency lead? The installation program of photovoltaic panels stagnates. Vulnerable consumers remain uncovered, bills continue to rise. When will we learn to be efficient, to do our duty to the Romanian citizens? This is the question I raise after voting for this directive.

Mr President, I voted today to adapt the Energy Efficiency Directive to the ambitious targets set out in the Fit for 55 package. In the context of the crisis generated by the colossal increase in prices, we must ensure that energy is no longer wasted through outdated constructions that are not adapted to the current requirements. Europe needs massive funding to renovate its building stock. This renovation is absolutely necessary for consumers who are burdened by ever-increasing bills. We must also ensure that new buildings meet the highest standards of energy efficiency, because only in this way will the measures taken by the European Union really have an impact. We also have a duty to fight energy waste, to fight energy poverty and to fight hard to achieve our climate goals.