Romania vows continued support for Moldova’s EU accession
Romanian President Nicușor Dan delivered a message from Cotroceni Palace to mark Europe Day. In his address, he defended Romania's membership in the European Union (EU) while also criticizing several decisions made by Brussels regarding energy, defense, and environmental policies. Additionally, the Romanian president expressed Romania's support for Moldova's accession to the EU.
Nicușor Dan emphasized the importance of strengthening the relationship between the European Union (EU) and the United States, as well as continuing support for the Republic of Moldova, according to caleaeuropeana.ro.
He stated, "The accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union is an important objective for Romania, and we will continue to act to help Moldova enter the European Union."
The Romanian head of state supported the continuation of Romania's Western path, indicating that the country would have "a pro-Western government within a reasonable time."
Nicușor Dan also highlighted the connection between Europe Day and Independence Day, noting that these two events "are linked to Romania's Western destiny."
He said, "Today we celebrate Europe Day, and tomorrow we celebrate Independence Day. These moments are interconnected and are tied to Romania's Western destiny. In times like these, it's important to take a step back from the immediate concerns and reflect on Romania's recent history."
Dan explained that the European Union has provided peace and prosperity to the continent, warning that peace "is not self-evident," especially in light of the ongoing war near Romania.
"The European Union has primarily meant peace in Europe, and peace brings prosperity. However, as we see from the conflict happening close to us, peace cannot be taken for granted," he added.
He asserted that the 20 years of EU membership have led to "modernization and particularly an increase in living standards for Romanians."
He noted, “The average salary has tripled and now reaches 80% of the average salary in the European Union. It is true that the wage gap between high and low earners in Romania is greater than in other parts of Europe, and that corruption is a challenge that affects Romanians, particularly those with lower incomes.”
Nevertheless, he concluded, “If we look at the overall picture, after 20 years, Romanians are certainly better off than they were two decades ago.”
The Romanian President also provided data regarding the financial advantages of Romania’s EU membership. He stated, "In the past 20 years, Romania has contributed 36 billion euros to the EU and received 110 billion euros in return, resulting in a net income of 74 billion euros. Of this amount, 45 billion euros were allocated to agriculture and the development of Romanian villages."
European funds have played a significant role in modernizing infrastructure and restoring Romania's national heritage, as stated by President Nicușor Dan.
"We have built or modernized 4,000 kilometers of roads with European money. Additionally, hundreds of millions of euros have been allocated to Romanian cultural symbols—churches, monasteries, fortresses, castles, Sarmizegetusa, museums—all funded by European resources," said Dan.
The president also emphasized the need for a transparent debate about Europe and criticized the use of slogans in discussions.
"I believe that on Europe Day, we should talk about Europe differently than just relying on slogans. We need to move away from a mindset that prioritizes slogans over debate, as this topic has unfortunately become divisive in our society," Dan said.
He went on to highlight several mistakes he attributes to the European Union, particularly regarding energy policy, defense, and environmental targets.
"Europe has made mistakes. One was abandoning nuclear power in favor of cheap gas from Russia. Neglecting its defense industry was another mistake. Furthermore, the ambitious targets set by the European Union for environmental policies have negatively impacted its heavy industry, which was also a misstep," the Romanian president said.
Despite these criticisms, he maintained that the European Union remains a "democratic construct" in which these issues can be openly discussed.
The president asserted that Romania must advocate for its interests more effectively within the European Union and rejected the notion that Romanian leaders go to Brussels merely to receive directives.
"We are at a point where Romania is credible and knows how to act within the European Union. We understand how to form alliances to support our policies and defend our interests just like other countries in the Union do. So, suggesting that Romanian leaders go to European leaders just to receive orders is nothing more than a slogan," the president concluded.
