Debate contributions by Victor NEGRESCU

Madam President, Commissioner, cohesion policy is irreplaceable. It cannot be merged, diluted or conditioned by non-transparent or antisocial reforms or criteria. Cohesion policy must remain as stipulated in the Treaties. Our localities, our regions, have developed thanks to these funds. I say a clear stop to the NRRPs of structural funds. I sought to show through my efforts that, through simplification and direct consultation of local authorities and direct beneficiaries, we can save both existing European money and design a more efficient future programming. We need more flexibility and the possibility to transfer some of the funds, even unspent, to new financing needs, especially to infrastructure, disaster-stricken areas or innovative projects. We must protect this European policy in this sense. I would like to congratulate the rapporteurs for accepting my amendments and coming with a strong message of support for cohesion policy.

The next item is the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 150). The debate on five motions for resolutions on the case of Ryan Cornelius in Dubai (2025/2796(RSP)) followed. The next item is the debate on five motions for resolutions on the case of Ryan Cornelius in Dubai (2025/2796(RSP)).

The next item is the debate on the Commission's Declaration on 51 years since Turkey's invasion of the Republic of Cyprus: condemn the continuation of the Turkish occupation and support the resumption of negotiations for a comprehensive solution in accordance with international law, UNSC resolutions and EU principles and acquis (2025/2794(RSP)).

The next item is the debate on the Council and Commission statements on the outcome of the Financing for Development Conference in Seville (2025/2793(RSP)).

Thank you, Commissioner. I can assure you that the debate is important for the Parliament. Many of the colleagues are at the group level right now discussing important issues related also to the Commission. The debate is closed.

Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, the European Union must move from reaction to prevention. Fires and droughts are no longer exceptions, they are the new normal. In Romania, we have seen how extreme temperatures have destroyed crops in Timis, Alba or Olt, how strong winds have ignited the fields of Giurgiu and Teleorman. In Constanta, farmers woke up with dry land, and in many villages firefighters intervened with old or insufficient equipment. As chief negotiator of the EU budget for 2025, we have secured additional funding for emergencies, more resources for equipping local authorities, direct support for vulnerable communities and the creation of a real European anticipatory response capacity. But it has to go on. We cannot leave communities alone in the face of crises. A prepared Union is a Union that prevents, not just intervenes, and prevention must become a central pillar in our European budget and policies.

Madam President, dear colleagues, the text before us may seem technical, but it carries a political message and a strategic concern. Once again – because this is clearly defined in the financial regulation – we are indirectly returning a surplus to the Member States. This time we speak about EUR 1.3 billion at a moment when the Union's financing needs are higher than ever and the budgetary flexibility is already stretched to its limits. To put it into perspective: since 2021, almost EUR 10 billion in surpluses have been used to reduce the contribution of Member States to the EU. That's the equivalent of the entire Digital Europe programme, twice the Health4EU budget or almost one third of the Erasmus+ budget. This situation highlights a paradox: we have urgent priorities, we face new challenges, and yet we give back resources that could be used for the common good. That is why I also want to use this occasion to underline the need to keep in mind our long-term priorities and not forget the key role the EU budget plays in maintaining our cohesion at EU level. The next multiannual financial framework must include the sustainable revenue system, more flexibility and the capacity to respond to crises without undermining existing programmes. Let us not repeat the same mistakes: surplus revenues, particularly from fines and interest, should strengthen the Union's capacity, not weaken it. We have a duty to deliver a Union that is resilient, responsive and forward-looking. This report enables us to flag these concerns and call upon the other EU institutions to find a better way in dealing with the surpluses and the carry-overs. I kindly invite you to support this report. I thank the shadow rapporteurs, and of course I hope that you will vote in favour of the draft amending budget No 1/2025.

Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, every year we talk about strategic autonomy, global competitiveness or European solidarity, but now it is proposed to cut the tools that make them possible, sabotaging our own future. Instead of strengthening the EU’s capacity, we allow it to erode silently. The next long-term European budget must be ambitious and adequately resourced. That is why the priorities, in my opinion, are clear. On the one hand, cohesion policy must remain the foundation of European solidarity, not the preferred target of cuts. At least 20% of the European budget must be earmarked for education and skills training. We need to protect rural development, to increase support for farmers and vulnerable groups, because people do not just survive with declarations, and the Union needs to be able to react quickly to crises, whether floods, fires or geopolitical threats. Fiscal flexibility is a necessity. We are not talking about figures, we are not talking about accounting, we are talking about what kind of Europe we want in the future, and I want a strong Europe, united and ready for the future.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the Republic of Moldova is no longer just a neighbouring country, it is part of our European family. In an extremely difficult regional context, the Republic of Moldova remained firmly committed to reforms and European values, and in this sense the report acknowledges the progress made, which must be continued by a pro-European government. But for citizens, for children, for vulnerable families, for those in villages, Europe must also mean social protection, access to education, basic services. Accession is not just technical chapters, but concrete changes in everyday life. That is why I join the calls from the European Parliament for access to pre-accession funds, but also to the Roaming as Home programme. In order to strengthen all these relations, the European Parliament will soon open, at the initiative also supported by me, but also by other political groups, a liaison office in Chisinau, a symbolic but also practical demarche for a real and constant European presence on the ground. Europe is not a distant dream, Europe is a certainty, and the Republic of Moldova has its place here with us. I congratulate the rapporteur, Mr Sven Mikser, and we thank Commissioner Kos for her efforts.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the Recovery and Resilience Facility has been a huge step for Europe. It meant unprecedented investments, important reforms and a rapid response to a historic crisis. But three years after its launch, all Member States face major implementation challenges. At the European level, the level of execution is far below expectations. Too few milestones and targets have been successfully completed. Hundreds of billions of euros are still to be paid, and the European Court of Auditors warns that there are serious problems with transparency and implementation. Even my country, Romania, is in a similar situation due to a misconceived national plan. There is now a lack of real consultation of local governments, involvement of social partners and unrealistic deadlines. That is why the Social Democrat group in the European Parliament has called for these consultations to be carefully monitored and the plans to be easier to modify, because we must act now so that we do not lose essential projects such as hospitals, schools, infrastructure projects, projects in the energy area or digitalisation. I reiterate our call: extension of mature projects by 18 months, transfer of unfinished projects to other funding sources, simplification of access to finance for authorities, real involvement of social partners. These solutions are in the European Parliament's report and were partly taken up in the European Commission's communication, although they had initially been rejected. But it's not enough, a complete decision is needed. This report is not just a technical document, it is a strong political message and a fight to ensure that our countries do not lose vital investments. It is a guarantee that European money is spent fairly, transparently and where it matters most. Now is the time for Europe to show that it does not leave essential projects behind, that it supports local communities and that it understands the huge stakes of investment. When there is political will, there are always solutions.

Madam President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, the Recovery and Resilience Facility is a historic European achievement. Never before has the European Union mobilised more than EUR 700 billion in such a short time. It is a symbol of solidarity, but also a test of our capacity to deliver results where they are needed the most. By the end of 2024, unfortunately, only 28 % of milestones and targets had been fully implemented. Over EUR 300 billion still need to be disbursed. Unless we act, critical investments risk being left incomplete. We need to speed up implementation, reduce bureaucracy and help beneficiaries. That is why, as rapporteur, I am pushing for pragmatic and concrete solutions. Firstly, we call in the report for an 18-month extension for mature projects. Secondly, we demand an easy-to-use transfer mechanism so that unfinished projects can continue under other EU instruments such as the Cohesion Fund, InvestEU or a future Competitiveness Fund. Thirdly, we call for clear, objective and fair evaluation criteria and more flexibility for the revision process of the national plans. Fourth, the report reinforces the role of local and regional authorities who are closest to the citizens and often bear the responsibility for delivering these projects. Fifth, we insisted on the involvement of social partners and civil society who must help shape reforms that affect people's daily lives. Sixth, we reiterate our call for a 10 % allocation for education and a 2 % allocation for the cultural and creative sectors. Finally, we emphasise the need to keep the pillar of social rights and the social criteria a priority. These concerns are backed by the European Court of Auditors, which highlighted in its special report the need for more transparency, better planning and stronger ownership at national and local level. All of those points are referred to with solutions in our report. I am proud that the European Commission had already taken on board several of these ideas in its recent communication: NextGenerationEU – the road to 2026. The funny fact is that, initially, the Commission said no when we underlined those specific calls. But we need, today, to do more than partial progress. We need the full package, because it is not enough to spend – we must ensure that every euro is used correctly, transparently and where it matters most. This is about public trust and it is our responsibility to safeguard it. A hospital cannot function with only the walls built, a digital training cannot happen without connectivity, a reform is useless if no one can implement it. Tomorrow, through our vote, this Parliament will send, I believe, a clear message: that we stand by the citizens, that we fight for the finalisation of essential projects, that we want every cent to count, and that Europe can and will deliver if it dares to adjust when reality demands it. I would like, of course, to thank my co-rapporteur and the shadows for the good work. When Parliament is united, we are stronger. Thank you for your support.

Mr President, dear colleagues, in recent weeks, Romania has again faced severe flooding: evacuated people, destroyed homes, broken roads, affected lives. Among the areas hit is the Praid Salt Mine, a natural monument and an important economic objective. There, the floods caused huge damage. A saline unique in Europe, used for medical purposes, risks collapsing. I asked the European Commission for emergency help and my appeal was heard. Within a few days, European experts arrived in Romania. This is the result of a concrete step, which we have started right here in the European Parliament, but we need more. In the negotiations for the Union budget, I managed to obtain additional funding for civil protection and natural disasters. I now call for these proceeds to be used for reconstruction as well. European solidarity must mean even more action, concrete help and support for people. The Praid Salt Mine and the affected communities deserve this.

Mr. President, dear colleagues, the Romanians sent a clear signal in the presidential elections that they want our country to remain in the European Union and that they reject the extremist discourse. They showed the whole of Europe their attachment to democracy. I unequivocally supported the vote for the continuation of the pro-European path, when perhaps others no longer believed that we could save ourselves. Today, however, we have to get back on our feet. We have to rebuild the social climate, to reunite Romania and to extend a hand to those who protested through their vote. At the same time, the European Union must do more for the people, and European leaders must stop flirting with populists. The fight against extremism is just beginning. We have to deal directly with the most difficult topics and show that it can be better. The national political system, as well as the European one, must reform, change its attitude towards people and especially listen to them. It is up to us that Sunday was not just a stage victory, but the beginning of a road to reconciliation.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, mental health at work can no longer be treated as a secondary issue. Half of European workers face psychosocial risks, ranging from overwork and insecurity to lack of support in the face of work-related stress, and the effects at work are felt directly: exhaustion, anxiety, decreased productivity, but especially people who feel invisible and alone. That is why I support the establishment of a European platform for occupational health that supports the exchange of good practices, provides concrete support to SMEs and transforms mental health policies into accessible and enforceable measures. We need coordinated strategies, dedicated funding and better integration between health, work and social inclusion policies. As the European Parliament's chief negotiator for the EU budget, we have already secured tens of millions of extra euros for mental health. This is the Europe I believe in: a Europe that protects people, including at work. Mental health is a right, a priority, but also a shared responsibility.

Madam President, dear colleagues, when we speak about a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, we must look beyond military assistance support. We must look into the eyes of those who are suffering the most: the children. Children who have lost their homes, their schools, their sense of safety. Children who go to sleep with fear instead of lullabies. One in five has lost a family member or a friend. More than 5 million have been displaced and worse, thousands have been stolen, taken from their families, from their country, from their identity. This is not just a war. It is a trauma that risks shaping a lost generation. A real peace must mean more than the silence of weapons. It must mean the healing of wounds. It means giving children back their hope, their rights, their future. We, as Europeans, cannot close our eyes. I am proud of how my country, Romania, has stood by Ukraine with open arms, offering children a chance to dream again. This is what solidarity looks like. This is what humanity demands. Let us build peace not just in agreement, but with compassion. Because protecting children, bringing them home, giving them back their childhood, it is not only a moral duty, it is the foundation of truly lasting peace.

Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, the future long-term European budget is not just an accounting exercise – it is the moment when we decide what kind of Europe we want. I stand for a Union that protects, invests and leaves no one behind. That is why we have come up with concrete proposals to this proposal of the European Parliament. We are asking for more money for education, so that young people have a future. We want health to be a real priority, so that we have funds for prevention, mental health and access to essential treatments. We want more investment in research, technology, artificial intelligence and training for Europeans. We defend cohesion policy, we support farmers, but also rural areas, very important to mention this, we ask for simpler rules for access to European funds and, last but not least, we want more transparency: a public system to monitor the spending of European money. These proposals are the clear signal that Parliament wants a budget anchored in the real needs of citizens. The answer must come now and we must not forget about the social dimension of Europe and not forget about vulnerable children and families.

(Reacting to the speaker holding up a sign on a sheet of paper) As always, I have to remind everyone that you are not allowed, of course, to show any kind of signs in these premises.

The next item is the debate on the Council and Commission statements on recent legislative changes in Hungary and their impact on fundamental rights (2025/2631(RSP)).

I want to inform all of you about the rules regarding pictures and signs, and the fact that they are not allowed in this room, as you already know.