Debate contributions by Victor NEGRESCU

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the security of Europe's digital infrastructure is a national security priority. The European Union cannot afford to be vulnerable or dependent. Today, we must ask ourselves whether we are truly prepared to protect our digital sovereignty. Almost 70% of equipment essential for European telecommunications networks comes from outside the Union, and many Member States continue to use technologies developed by companies considered a security risk. We're exposed to major threats. Romania was one of the states that decided to limit access to their telecommunications infrastructure. Member States can and must act to protect themselves, but it is not enough for only a few countries to take action. I call on the European Commission to propose a European fund for the security of digital infrastructure, a common regulatory framework for access to networks, massive investments in European alternatives. If we do not act now, we will pay a much higher price in the future.

The next meeting will take place tomorrow, Thursday 13 February 2025, at 9 a.m. The agenda has been published and is available on the European Parliament's website.

Madam Vice-President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, Europe can no longer afford to stand still. The European Competitiveness Compass must not be just a beautifully drafted document. We need a real action plan that brings investment, support for education and skills training, support for SMEs and concrete solutions for innovation and reducing economic disparities. All Member States must have equal access to resources. According to the European Court of Auditors, Eastern European countries received only 7.2 % of the total funding allocated under the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme. For example, Romania, which is one of the fastest growing economies in the EU, attracted only 0.46% of the total funds available under this programme. We need to correct this imbalance. If we want a strong Europe, we must invest smartly and make sure that no country is left behind. Europe's competitiveness is built together through courageous decisions and concrete actions.

Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, the shortage of medical staff is a critical issue. There are currently 1.2 million doctors and nurses missing across Europe. The situation has worsened due to the pandemic and the ageing of the population. Romania is one of the most affected states, although we train an important number of professionals in the field. More than 15,000 doctors and more than 50,000 nurses have left the country in recent years. The exodus has affected the quality of health services, increased waiting times and led to a shortage of services essential for the health of the population. We need a programme for returning home and one that facilitates mobility to disadvantaged areas. In rural areas, about 400 localities in Romania do not have access to a family doctor, and hospitals face a major shortage of specialists in critical areas such as anesthesia and intensive care. I am not currently satisfied with the reaction that the European Commission has had so far, but I am convinced that together with the new European Commissioner we will find the best solutions, because we must act at European level to create decent working conditions for medical staff and ensure that we cope with this shortage of medical resources.

Mr President, let us buy locally, let us support producers and farmers - that is what I was saying a few years ago, also here in the European Parliament. Meanwhile, we promoted a petition approved by the European Parliament, questioned the committee, amended the legislation, obtained additional European funds for Romanian farmers and producers, and improved the rights of supermarket workers and those working for online platforms. The extremists in Romania were silent then and were shopping in luxury stores. They still don't come up with any viable solution, copying and climbing on a European trend that they don't even understand. Beyond the noise of sovereign Eurosugatives, we have a responsibility to focus on solutions: fewer intermediaries, access for small producers to supermarkets, no shelf fees, support for local brands, less bureaucracy and higher subsidies for farmers. Only through common measures at European level can we support small farmers. Let us not approach this subject with populism! Let's focus on real solutions for people!

The next item is the Commission statement, "The failure of the Busan negotiations on a UN Plastics Treaty and the urgent need to tackle plastic pollution at international and Union level" (2025/2508(RSP)). So, as I said, we move to the next debate, and I announced the name of the debate, at the same time politely asking Commissioner Brunner to take the floor on behalf of the Commission, if you are ready, Commissioner? He's always ready!

The Rules are clear. Of course, where colleagues appeal to those respective Rules, as I said earlier, we take note of the considerations and the requests made. We will address the issue to the Bureau, and the Bureau will make a decision on this request. If there are similar requests on other speeches, anyone can do it. But, of course, please refer to the Rules. And in this case, the Rules are clear. Let's try, of course, to respect the Rules of this House, all of us.

Thank you for raising the issue. According to the Rules, I will inform the Bureau about your request. A decision will be made according to the Rules of Procedure and we will inform you of the decision that was made by the Bureau.

The services also instructed me to come back to the point of order. I just want to mention that we are not allowed to have questions addressed to the first round of political group speakers, but to come to the point of order, Ms García Hermida-Van Der Walle, please, you have to mention, according to the Rules, of course, the Rule that you refer to.

The next item is the Commission statement "Tackling the demographic challenges facing the EU: steps towards the implementation of the Demography Toolbox 2023" (2024/3016(RSP)), and we start with an initial intervention by the European Commission, Commissioner Šuica.

Madam President, Prime Minister Tusk, dear colleagues, the next six months are crucial for the future of Europe. The Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union must find ambitious solutions to the problems we face. For example, defining new relations with the United States under the Trump era. We need a new fair trade agreement, but also a stronger security partnership to protect the interests of our states: Protecting European democracies – we need to effectively fight foreign interference, disinformation and political radicalisation, especially in Romania and Germany, where important elections are coming up; the need for a larger European budget; protecting cohesion policy and the common agricultural policy. We also need to have additional funding for health and education. The well-being of Europeans must come first; the situation in Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova and how we can be at the table of new negotiations, Europe, and involved in the process of reconstruction of Ukraine. You have evoked our security and we need to develop European industry and respect our NATO commitments. If we fail, the European project will be in danger, and then we will all be in danger.

Madam President, this year's last European Council is a chance for a fresh start in how we need to make politics at European level. I am convinced that the new President, Antonio Costa, supported by the European Social Democratic family, will bring a new approach to the way decisions are based and the consensus we so badly need is built. The international challenges we face are pushing Europe to act to find a solution to the conflicts and tensions that directly affect our citizens. We need to help our partners, as is the case with the Republic of Moldova, in the context of the energy crisis, but we also need to increase citizens' confidence in European decisions. European leaders must explain directly and honestly that if we do not defend our values, if we do not support our allies, if we give in to those who want to harm us, we will be next. Our democracies cannot be saved with beautiful images on social networks, but only through a responsible and coherent message. Our democracies have not started this war, do not occupy territories or manipulate public opinion. Our democracies want peace and stability, they want to develop and raise the standard of living of the population. Finally, the European Council needs to adopt a clear and determined position in this regard to show that Europe is a relevant and strong actor at international level.

Before switching to the next debate, I want to inform you that Mr Lukas Sieper requested a personal statement at the end of this debate, according to Rule 180 of the European Parliament's Rules of Procedure, and this has been granted. I want to remind you that Members making a personal statement may not speak on substantive matters.

Mr President, dear colleagues, more and more of our citizens use social media for information. It is normal because this is accessible to everyone. It is also a reflection of our society searching for faster solutions, where we, as individuals, are more and more isolated while still being connected all the time. We have been talking about this for many years in this House, but it seems that our democracies have been taken by surprise once again. The problem is not social media by itself. The real problem is that we have individuals, groups and external non-democratic powers using social platforms to misinform us, manipulate us to destroy our democracies. Imagine that, due to algorithm manipulation, you get bombarded by false information, paid posts and mass messaging. This is social engineering and this has been done while illegally using money for the political campaign. Acting illegally is not freedom of speech. This is what happened in Romania. This is what the report presented by the Moldovan authorities shows happened to them. The decision of the European Commission to open an investigation today confirms what happened. Our mechanisms have not been efficient enough. Our coordination needs to improve. Platforms need to pay for their mistakes and recognise their failure, so that we can rebuild better and faster. Everyone needs to respect the rules in time for the next Romanian and German elections. They need to start sharing information and presenting themselves in front of the European Parliament, as they have done in front of the US Congress. Dear colleagues, it is not about left and right, about traditional or new parties. If you fail with Romania, your countries will be next.

Mr President, dear colleagues, the elections that have just taken place in Romania have been a real shock for many. The scale of foreign interference has affected the social climate, generating a blaming vote with enormous risks on democracy and Romania's Euro-Atlantic future. But the danger has not passed. Thirty-five years after the Romanian Revolution of 1989, the seeds of distrust in democracy have been planted and demand a paradigm shift more than ever. People need to be listened to by respecting their opinion, dissatisfaction and expectations. Political leaders must learn to trust Romanians more, both in the country and abroad. Authenticity, trust, facts, but especially education and modesty are the ingredients for a new stage of Romanian democracy. In memory of those who sacrificed themselves for our freedoms and rights today, we have a duty not to give up. We have the mission to understand and especially to act so that the strong Romania we want to live in peace and safety in a united and developed European Union.

Madam President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, we did it. We found an ambitious agreement on the EU annual budget for 2025. With our plenary vote, we give the final go‑ahead for the EU budget to be signed into law. As the chief negotiator of the European Parliament, I believe it is important to highlight that this was more than a mere formality. In times of institutional transition, societal turmoil and complex geopolitical realities in many regions of the world, public budgets are often the focal point of political conflicts. We see governments and coalitions stumble over their battles about spending priorities, but we kept our unity. At almost EUR 200 billion, the EU budget for 2025 that we have agreed with the Council is 6 % bigger than this year's, meaning a EUR 10 billion increase, responding to the needs of Europeans while being able to pay back for the post-pandemic economic recovery of the Union without cutting key programmes. By approving our EU budget for next year, we will send a forceful message to the citizens that the EU, despite the difficult political and economic context, is able to equip itself with the financial means necessary to implement its policies and respond to its people's needs. On top of the Commission's proposals, we have managed to add: EUR 422 million more for education and young people, increasing Erasmus+, to a total of EUR 4.3 billion; EUR 45 million for research, innovation and health; EUR 30 million for agriculture, in particular for young farmers, making it a total of EUR 39.9 billion for the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund; EUR 5 million for nature, biodiversity and climate action; EUR 10 million for the management of the EU external borders, in particular for Schengen enlargement with Romania and Bulgaria; EUR 6 million more for military mobility or EUR 50 million more for humanitarian aid. And we have many examples of this kind, but also we have increased our support for the work of the European Public Prosecutor's Office and Europol. Within these tight margins of the financial framework, I am proud that we have shown that we can pay this cost without cutting flagship programmes, and at the same time, we managed to install a budgetary discipline. At the same time, we managed to restore Council reductions to the flagship programmes and at the same time retain a sizeable amount for the flexibilities for next year. We also have provision in the budget for additional disaster relief in our regions and, of course, in particular in the rural areas, and we are trying to help the compatriots affected by the floods, droughts and wildfires. As part of the agreement, we accorded to frontload payment appropriations of up to EUR 3 billion to provide support for regions affected by natural disasters. And, of course, we refer here to the regions and the countries from Central and Eastern Europe, and, of course, to our friends from Spain. Our unity among the groups helped to push our interests and priorities in the discussion with the Council. Despite the fact that we have differences in this House, we were able to negotiate a solid and strong budget for 2025 that replies to our citizens' expectations and helps alleviate some of the hardships that they are facing. I call on you to vote in favour of the budget 2025 tomorrow, and I would like to thank my colleagues, the shadows, my colleagues from the S&D conciliation team, the Council also for their work, but also the Commissioner. This is your last budget. You did a great job – thank you for that. And I think we need to approve the budget tomorrow.

Madam President, Europe needs to wake up. We face unexpected and unpredictable times, and European leaders must be more realistic in the way they design policies and how we build the future of the European Union. The report is right: the war in Ukraine, the conflict in the Middle East, the threat of Russia and China and the growth of the far right are harming us. Europe needs to invest more in our military and civil preparedness, but the EU also needs to do more for our citizens, protecting our democratic values, listening to people while explaining to them the options and why we unfortunately need to make all of us further efforts. What are we fighting for if not for our people? In order to be able to maintain peace, we need to prepare for all circumstances. But no one will follow us if Europe is blocked by minor political interests, bureaucracy burden or the arrogance some are showing. If we build trust, Europe will be trustworthy.