Debate contributions by Adrian-George AXINIA

Madam President, the use of the mechanism for making European funds conditional on so-called respect for the rule of law is a sample of hypocrisy and obvious forcing. It is funny to hear the discussion about the rule of law, when freedom of expression is strangled with orders from the top of the European Commission. It limits European citizens' access to relevant information and imposes huge fines on companies that propagate ideas. It is clear that the mechanism aims at discreetly punishing those who step out of line, going beyond the limits of the constitutive treaties, and has denounced this trend by the Belgian Government itself. Romania is the only state in the European Union classified as a ‘hybrid regime’ in the democracy index and criticised in the US State Department report for cancelling presidential elections and banning some candidacies. Even so, the issue of sanctions for non-compliance with the rule of law has never been raised. This is because the political power in Romania, perpetuated unconstitutionally and illegitimately, played exactly as it was dictated from Brussels, Paris or Berlin. Moreover, even now Brussels is not reacting to the unleashed attacks of some politicians of the power in Bucharest on justice.

Madam President, protecting minors online is not only a noble goal, but a necessity for the emotional health of our children. If we lose this battle with addiction and unhealthy practices, the future will become dystopian. I would have liked to vote for a report that protects children, but the surprise that under this title that sounds beautiful, the rapporteur attacks the sovereignty of the Member States and paves the way for future cyber-attacks. Reading the report, it's clear that the great silver bullet, represented by Digital Services ActLooks like he missed his target. The measures imposed are either unnecessary or easy to bypass. Focus DSA has shifted from protecting European citizens to limiting freedom of expression. I insist that the intention to create a team of so-called experts to be coordinated by Ursula von der Leyen and this structure to establish rules for online platforms without going through Parliament beforehand is toxic. Finally, I would like to draw attention to some bad practices in Romania. My party, AUR, has tried to ban minors from French-style pornographic websites. The political power in Bucharest, held in the arms of Brussels, opposed this move.

Mr President, the Gozi report should be taught in logic courses across Europe. It is the perfect example of correct premises and hallucinatory conclusions, which cannot be derived from initial assumptions. Instead of discussing how to help candidate countries meet the conditions for EU membership faster, the report recommends some aberrations, such as eliminating member states' vetoes, which equates to the desire for an autocratic system. A second aberration: give Ursula von der Leyen complete freedom to deal with the purchase of military equipment, probably on the same system as she dealt with vaccines and, last but not least, to establish the majority in the European Parliament as the electoral rules in the Member States look like, possibly banning parties as well. I, as a Romanian MEP, support the enlargement of the European Union. There are states that have started this process, have made reforms and sacrifices and deserve to be with us. I do not agree that there should be couplings, as is the case with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. I believe that each state must be assessed individually, the approach being more effective than one on the waves. I think this would help the Republic of Moldova, which is ready and willing.

Mr President, the fine imposed on Google by the European Commission is a mosquito bite for a pachiderm. Giant tech The U.S. will appeal the fine in court. However, the 3 billion is nothing compared to the 248 billion euros, which was Alphabet's turnover only for online advertising, of which 15 billion euros are profit reported for 2024. This fine sends a double signal. On the positive side, however, we are trying to support European journalists. Let's see how the money is distributed. The downside is that Europe is telling Trump again that it wants to wrestle with America. As a rule, when that's what Ursula von der Leyen does, things end badly for us. This discussion should be a good time to discuss why Google has a monopoly in Europe. The problem is with the European gold-plating model imposed by Brussels, which has discouraged innovation in the European Union in the area of big tech and allowed the American giants an ultradominant position. How did we end up with no companies in the top 10 worldwide and only two in the top 20? Probably, if we knew the exact turnovers of Chinese companies, we wouldn't even enter the top 20. Another discussion that I consider relevant is the fact that there are countries, such as Romania, where mass media institutions are paid with public money to promote the political discourse of the parties in power, which receive state funds for this. If we want justice and freedom for journalists, this practice should also be banned or sanctioned.

Mr President, one substance, one assessment This is a very good course of action for the European Union. We will support everything that involves deregulation, cutting red tape and reducing the foliage of budgetless and unnecessary institutions. The same should be done for other branches of the economy, where the green delirium of GReen Deal It has wreaked havoc, for example, on the automotive and energy production sectors. Equally, given the terms of the trade agreement with Mercosur, it must be said that European restrictions on pesticides are exaggerated and weaken the competitiveness of the agricultural sector. We are safe prey for those who produce in other parts of the world. That's why we don't export much anymore. We have seen the crisis that occurred when the European Union market was invaded by grain produced in Ukraine. From the category of exaggeration, I would like to give you an example: A new procedure has recently been launched. infringement against Romania for a few derogations granted to very large organisations of farmers who have treated their seeds against pests. Although no harmful effects were found for bees or the environment, the procedure goes ahead to refer the matter to NGOs that are funded from Brussels, which is an obvious conflict of interest. I stick to the idea that the European Union lags far behind other parts of the world through gold-plating, with big companies bypassing the European single market. They refuse to develop any more products to be placed on the single market. Moreover, European companies that try to comply with the rules have huge costs.

Mr President, continuing to commit to the target of eliminating combustion engine cars by 2035 is a form of forced euthanasia of the automotive industry, especially since Europeans and Americans want engines, gasoline and diesel cars. The European Commission's game of forcing electrification puts at risk 7% of the Union's GDP and around 13.8 million jobs. At this point, 20% fewer cars are already being produced than before the pandemic and the figure is decreasing. There is, of course, a winner in this situation. It is called China, where wheeled washing machines are produced. By forcing this technological transition, Europe has given up its advantage. In the case of cars, the price is essential, and the Chinese massively subsidize and practice dumping prices, as they do with the light industry. As a Romanian MEP, given that my country has reached the sixth place in the European Union in terms of the number of cars produced, I believe it is crucial to remove that ban on thermal engines before it is too late.

Mr President, encouraging legal and illegal migration was a huge mistake. It has generated high economic and social costs, but also a significant weakening of confidence in the European project. There is an acute feeling of a besieged city. A 10-minute drive from the European Parliament, anyone can see the reality. Our lives and values are under threat. It is time for Europe to understand that we need a higher and safer fence, not only physically, but also legislatively. For example, since 2020, my country has offered work permits to over 500,000 workers in Asia, over 120,000 are physically in Romania, others have gone west, which is why we need unitary and restrictive legislation. The problem of the European Union is the negative natural growth. We need a baby boom to be encouraged and financed from Brussels, and we will no longer need migrants incompatible with our values. Political leaders should take it easy on the false virtues. This is not how the Nobel Peace Prize is won, as ‘Mutti’ Merkel wanted. The leadership of the European Union must act rationally to solve Europe's real, economic, social and security problems.

Mr President, I welcome the European Commission's intention to reach an agreement with the United States on trade tariffs as soon as possible, despite the postponement of the deadline for August. Predictability is good for financial markets as well as for European companies. The reality is that it has emerged from an alliance logic and entered into a transactional one, because Europe has an oppressive taxation compared to America. Speaking of taxation, the Romanian government claims that the current European Commission is the one that asked them to increase VAT from 19 to 21% in order to correct the budget deficit. That's the trend in several places in Europe, while America has the largest package of tax cuts in its history. To this unfortunate situation also contribute regulations that are ideological, progressive, rather than being elements of public utility. Last but not least, there is the feeling that concessions to the standard 10% tariff negotiated with the Trump administration are made almost exclusively in Germany's interest, giving priority to steel and cars. This will reduce European cohesion and cause frustration in the EU.

Madam President, the Recovery and Resilience Facility was conceived from the outset as a lifeline for European economies, so affected by the excessive and fire-fighting measures taken during the pandemic. Romania needs this coil now. We, the AUR MEPs, will vote in favour, because Romania's economy is collapsing and extending the implementation deadline of mature projects by 18 months would be an important oxygen bubble. Romania has the largest budget deficit in the European Union, 9.3%, the highest inflation, 5.5%, the largest increase in public debt and the largest current account deficit due to the parties of the two initiators of the report, PSD and PNL. It would have been the case that, instead of giving lessons, the authors of the disaster would have put ashes on their heads. The European Commission should support this approach, because they have also closed their eyes, out of convenience and political interests, to the orgy of unjustified expenditure started in Romania since 2019. I want to go home and tell people that Brussels has shown understanding, not that, already with one foot in the pit, it is giving us another push, refusing this request for an extension of the NRRP.

Madam President, there is a famous anonymous quote that somehow describes the cyclicality of war on European soil: “Good times create strong people, strong people create good times. Good times create weak people and weak people create hard times.” In a Europe of prosperity, 80 years after the end of the Second World War, with cheerful unconsciousness, our project is on its way to a new pan-European conflict. This is because the leadership of the European Union is cut off from reality and from the will of European citizens. I was glad to hear about what we have managed to build in the last 80 years on the continent: freedom, prosperity, security. It was good if we insisted on the word peace, which is missing from the description of this event. As for democracy, I would have liked to see in the last half year more reactions to the anti-democratic abuses committed by the political power in Romania. Not like Brussels, which closed its eyes or even applauded the cancellation of the will of Romanian citizens. Fortunately, their voice was heard on May 4 and will be heard on May 18.

Mr. President, dear colleagues, it is my joy to announce that the first round of the presidential elections in Romania was won detached by the conservative candidate George Simion, the president of the political party to which I belong. Simion is a convinced pro-American, but also a man who wants a strong and reformed Europe. As for this customs hysteria, which has given rise to so many vituperations at this desk, I tell you that what the Republican administration in Washington is doing is waking us up to reality – that is because the car called Europe is skidding badly, with some sleepy drivers at the wheel. This customs war shows us three things. Firstly, that we have too high taxes and levies in Europe; this is why we have strangled private initiative and this is why European companies have lost their competitiveness and are no longer able to innovate. Secondly, that we need the restart of European industry. We must begin to produce here again what is necessary for the development of our countries, not to rely so easily on imports of very cheap consumer goods. Last but not least, the revenge measures proposed by the European Commission are awkward and there is no negotiating strategy. The Americans are putting taxes on steel and cars, and Brussels wants taxes on whiskey and Harley-Davidson.

Madam President, the European Union's strategy for crisis preparedness is a useful step, especially since we live in an increasingly uncertain world where so-called black swans regularly appear. However, some of the proposed lines of action must either be reformulated or rethought. I point out four shortcomings of the strategy: First of all, the manner in which the 72-hour supply kit was communicated as mandatory created panic. It has been created the impression that war is definitely entering and that this is the reason why this strategy exists. Secondly, given that there are increasing problems with the functioning of democracies in some Member States, it seems that the European Union is encouraging institutional militarisation. Or, we remember that in the pandemic there was an authoritarian drift, with many excesses and abuses. Thirdly, as we have seen in the scandal Pfizergate, as long as there is no transparency from the European Commission, proposing that Brussels manage the storage of emergency resources in an integrated way is not the best idea. Last but not least, it is tragicomic that the European Union, on any subject, is to establish new institutions and bureaucratic structures implicitly chosen and without legitimacy.

Madam President, honourable colleagues, honourable representatives of the European Commission, I want the plenary of the European Parliament to hear an expression in which we, the GOLD, strongly believe: Bessarabia is Romania! The solution to the security, economic, social and political problems in the Republic of Moldova would be the union of the two states. The tectonic plates of history are moving at this moment – with the support of the European Union, the dream of Romanians on both sides of the Prut could be fulfilled. But we know very well that the style of Brussels and Strasbourg is the stalemate, in the hope that the problems will resolve themselves. Without adequate support, without a diversification of pro-European and pro-Romanian political options in Chisinau, there can be unpleasant surprises in parliamentary elections. Unionists also need to be supported. Returning to the mechanism you want to establish, AUR considers that any support for the Bessarabian brothers is auspicious. But I want to make three observations: - firstly, Moldovans will see that out of that total amount of 1.9 billion euros, only 520 million euros are grants, the rest are conditional loans. The ratio of non-reimbursable money to loans had to be the other way around; Secondly, the reforms demanded in the Republic of Moldova will be turned by pro-Russians against the current administration and used in parliamentary elections. See also the blockage of the NRRPs in Romania, also conditioned by reforms that have not been carried out. Demand more than a government in Chisinau under constant siege can deliver; - and last but not least, if you want to solve the energy problem of the Republic of Moldova, the situation of the European single market must be reviewed. Romania, which is self-sufficient on gas and electricity, has ended up paying the highest bills in the European Union. This is relevant because the Republic of Moldova has escaped dependence on Russia, importing all gas and electricity from Romania. We are currently producing and importing for two countries.

Madam President, it is said that at the fall of Constantinople, Byzantine theologians barricaded in the city were discussing the sex of angels. We are talking about a kind of madness of the ivory tower in which the functionaries cut off from reality have barricaded themselves. This is exactly what the European Commission's proposed Work Programme for 2025 looks like. Many empty bureaucratic acts, which only proliferate legislative inflation in the European Union. This blocks innovation and creates frustration, great frustration, among the citizens of the Member States. While others are developing high technology, innovating in medicine or obtaining new sources of energy, the European Union has tied the glass stopper. This commission led by Ursula von der Leyen is detached from reality. It is not able to produce public policies that encourage the economy. No wonder the World Bank recently cut its growth forecast for Europe to 1.1% this year. If you want to do something good, look at Department of Government Efficiency Trump and Maas set up in Washington and think about how much good such a structure would do in the bureaucratic hurdle of the European Union.

Mr President, Romania has a huge shortage of medical staff in public hospitals. There are 9,000 unoccupied doctors, 1,600 residents and 14,000 nurses. This is considering that Romania also has 26 medical graduates per 100 000 inhabitants, above the EU average of 15.5. Many Romanian health professionals are leaving to work in the European Union because of low wages, poor working conditions and an excessively politicised system. 22,000 doctors educated in Romania, or 37% of all Romanian doctors, were working abroad in 2021. From this point of view, our country ranks third in the world, after India and Pakistan, but it is by far the first in the European Union. It is disappointing that no one says a word about this, not even in the European Commission's report. Sign that there are states that like us to train doctors and then they pick ripe fruits. One solution could be a financial compensation formula towards Romania, which trains a large part of the medical workforce in Europe.

Madam President, an aphorism that has become famous in recent years is that the rules of physics apply whether we believe in them or not. Paraphrasing and taking into account the regulatory proposal Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) we can say that these virtual currencies will exist, regardless of whether the European Union or any other Member State thinks they are good or tries to control them completely. What the European Commission does not understand is the raison d'être of these cryptocurrencies. The logic of a trust-based currency, citizens or markets applies to them. However, the emergence of these virtual currencies is rather the result of mistrust in the functioning of the economy and complex political-administrative systems. Many are taking refuge in crypto to protect the value of their property in the face of inflation, financial and economic turmoil, but also as an attempt to bypass a Big Brother system that wants to know every second what every citizen does with money. In its current form, Markets in Crypto Assets It will fail precisely because of too great a desire to enter into people's privacy and to check and control financial flows. This is exactly what happened with the attempt to ban or limit cash payments. The approach proposed by the Commission is therefore closer to China, where crypto transactions are banned, than to a financial system open to innovation. Even in this regard, Brussels would have to learn from the new administration in Washington.

Mr President, the way this debate is conducted is a slippery slope for the future of European democracy. Talking openly about banning some media platforms just because establishment Politically, we can no longer control the narrative, we end up no longer making distinctions between our democratic system and what happens in dictatorships or autocratic systems. Censorship, no matter how many justifications you find, is not acceptable. I remind you that when Putin attacked Ukraine, a ban was imposed in Russia on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Google. In Romania, the cancellation of free elections by the political power through highly politicized institutions, such as the Constitutional Court, is much more dangerous. If you want to talk about immoral actions, look also at the approximately 100 million euros that, from the citizens' money, the old parties in Romania gave to the traditional media to promote their own discourse. While online there is an exchange of ideas, in the classical press one can only see the narrative of power, this is what brainwashing looks like.

Madam President, as an AUR MEP, a member of the Conservatives and Reformists Group, I support the fact that the European Union should develop sectoral programmes to ensure access to drinking water for all European citizens. In particular, newer countries entering the European Union must be equally supported and obliged. For example, in my country, due to successive very bad governments, guaranteed and supported in Brussels, five million Romanians drink water from unverified sources, and eight million Romanians do not have access to sewage. According to the National Institute of Statistics, 23 % of households in Romania did not have access to drinking water supply from public networks and 41 % of the population did not have access to sewage systems equipped with treatment plants. The two numbers must be joined precisely because, using primitive sewage systems, the groundwater from which water is extracted, especially in rural areas of Romania, are simply infested. All the things said here are good and beautiful, but those at the top of the European Union must also assume to pull the sleeve of those who govern in countries like Romania, where there are citizens who use water as in the Middle Ages.

Mr President, the railway network in Romania is in a deep state of degradation. As evidence, for 2023, the average speed for passenger trains was 44 km/h and for freight trains 15 km/h. There were higher average speeds between the two World Wars. The Romanian network is 20% electrified. Romania has at its disposal European funds of over EUR 6 billion. The total contracted amount so far exceeds EUR 3.5 billion, but many of the projects are lagging behind. The situation is dramatic due to endemic corruption at the level of the Ministry of Transport and state railway companies, with several former directors of CFR, CFR Marfa and CFR Infrastructură being investigated. At the moment, the Romanian Government is preparing a scam to liquidate and bankrupt CFR Marfă, which has debts of over EUR 900 million to the state budget and wants to set up a new company, Carpatica Feroviar, to take over the assets.

Madam President, the European single market is a very good idea, which, unfortunately, in certain areas of activity is not working properly. I'll give you three examples: the energy market, where Romania, which produces more electricity than it consumes, pays the highest bills in the European Union. The second dysfunction, which is still unresolved, is agriculture. Furthermore, cereals and certain food products exported from Ukraine reach the Romanian, Bulgarian or Polish market and create unfair competition for domestic agricultural producers. It is also worth highlighting the refusal to implement the process of external convergence, which should lead to the equalisation of subsidies for farmers in all countries of the European Union. Last but not least, recently, the Court of Justice of the European Union declared illegal several provisions of the mobility package targeted against Romanian carriers, which confirms the Draghi report. There is still gold-plating of the single market and this affects free competition. I would also point out that the killing of the Schengen area by the countries that introduce general border controls and the states that still keep Romania and Bulgaria on the sidelines still affects the proper functioning of the single market.

Madam President, the Schengen area is dead. This is evident from Germany's recent decision to introduce generalised controls at its border. You don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to figure out who killed the free zone in Europe. First of all, the states that made fun of the rules. The most handy example is Austria, which still blocks access with land borders for Romania and Bulgaria in vain. Second, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, under the popular leadership of the European Union, who invited migrants from the Middle East to come to Europe. Thirdly, the leadership of the European Union, which for years refused to discuss the issue of migrants, preferring to send them to all corners of the Union on the basis of arbitrarily set quotas. It is also the European Union that refuses a constructive dialogue with Turkey. If the Erdogan administration lets go of the flood of refugees, Europe will never look the same. Schengen will become what it was when internal discrimination is eliminated, when the European Union states show solidarity and cooperate, including from the perspective of securing the external borders.

Mr. President, there are one million citizens of the Republic of Moldova who have also formally received Romanian citizenship. Many of them work in other states of the European Union and prove to be good people and workers who have fully adhered to European values. They send home significant amounts of money and, in fact, represent the real engine of the economy of the Republic of Moldova. It is becoming clear that our Bessarabian brothers see in the European Union the way to an improvement of the economic and social situation. What the Bessarabians do not see, however, is that Europe's political leaders should be genuinely concerned about what is happening in their country. It would have been necessary, also in view of the referendum of 20 October, to increase the presence of Europe's leaders in the Republic of Moldova, in order to clearly present the benefits of this accession and to make firm commitments in this regard to the citizens. You can't just love from one side. Today's debate in Strasbourg was much, much more useful if it was held in the Parliament in Chisinau, including from the perspective of countering the hybrid attacks of the Russian Federation against the institutions of the Republic of Moldova. I reiterate the GOLD's hope that the Republic of Moldova will be a member of the European Union as soon as possible and that the referendum of October 20 will be a success.