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The Romanian PM Viorica Dancila on Tuesday underscored, in Strasbourg, the importance importance of putting citizens' interests first in making decisions at EU level and the need of eliminating any form of differentiated treatment, so that the common European values be strengthened.
The head of the Romanian Executive presented in the plenary sitting of th European Parliament in Strasbourg the priorities of the Romanian presidency at the Council of the EU, as our country is leading this forum's work in the first semester of this year.
"We want a more democratic Union, so that we are going to promote the equal treatment all the member states and all the European citizens aspire to. This is an essential aspects in gaining the citizens' trust in the European project. And I'm telling you this from the perspective of the Romanian citizens whom I represent in my capacity as Prime Minister and who, despite their very strong attachment to the Union, feel that Romania is treated unequally, especially when our country is being criticized for aspects that are natural in other member states or when Romania is imposed to meet certain conditionalities that other EU member states are not force to meet. Romanians feel that they are treated unequally when they see that our country is left outside the Schengen Space and I want to thank Mr. President (of the European Commission - editor's note) Jean-Claude Juncker and Mr. President (of the European Parliament - editor's note) Antonio Tajani for their total support they are giving to us in our aspiration to the Schengen Space. I gave you these examples from my country in order for you to understand that certain decision that are made at the European level regarding some member states in the end have an impact on the citizens in these states and determine, in one way or the other, the trust they have in the Union. Which is why we need to always think of the citizens in the targeted member states when making our decisions and to eliminate any form of differentiated treatment, so that we can strengthen the common EU values," said Dancila.
She also wanted to emphasize the role of education and cultural in shaping the European future, both from the individual perspective of the European citizen and from the perspective of strengthening the European project, and also the importance of finding new solutions in involving the young in shaping a stronger Europe, based on common values.
On the other hand, PM Dancila mentioned that Brexit is the centre of attention during the Romanian presidency of the Council of the EU. "In May, our democracy - the biggest transnational democracy - is going to elect a new European Parliament. My proposal is to capitalize on the future electoral context, as this is a chance for us, the ones who believe in Europe, to promote a Union that is more oriented to its founding principles, according to our European spirit," added the head of the government in Bucharest.
"I believe in a stronger Europe - through unity, in a better Europe - through the achievement of our commitments to its citizens and at a global level and, why not, I believe in a Europe that is more European - through the promotion of the authentic European values and through stimulating the citizens' feeling of belonging to the European space. A stronger Europe, united in all its dimensions - political, economic, social - represents the best solution for the future European project," the Romanian PM also states.
