MEP Victor Negrescu welcomed Spain’s assumption of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union and particularly welcomed the priorities of the new Presidency, with a focus on European unity, the development of European industry and the increase of Europe’s strategic autonomy.

“I particularly appreciate the motto under which the presidency is being held, which is about a Europe closer to its citizens and their real needs. I am convinced that we will work well with the incoming EU Council Presidency and I am glad that through successive contacts with the Spanish representatives we have managed to put on their European agenda issues of interest to Romania”, said Negrescu.

In the context of Spain taking over the EU Council Presidency, Social Democrat MEP Victor Negrescu raised the concern in the European Parliament that Romania’s accession to the Schengen area could be endangered by the Spanish elections if Romanian parties failed to take joint action.

He called on Romanian political parties and their representatives in the European Parliament to persuade their colleagues in Spain to publicly declare their support for our country’s accession to the free movement area, as the Social Democrats had done.

“Spain will take over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union at a time when Europe needs immediate solutions to support its people and in a complex electoral situation. I call on all political parties in Spain to support Romania’s accession to the Schengen area, especially as its Presidency of the Council of the European Union is the last chance to do so before next year’s European elections”, said MEP Victor Negrescu.

He also stressed that “the Spanish social democrats have been steadfast in their support for Romania and it is time for the representatives of the Spanish right and far right to do the same”.

Therefore, the Romanian representative in the European Parliament called on all Romanian parties and his fellow MEPs “to discuss with their partners as we Social Democrats have done, without compromise, without empty statements and without surprises as it happened with the right wing in Austria”.

Victor Negrescu also stressed that “we have an obligation to fight for the respect of European Treaties, not to give up on this objective and to actively use foreign political relations in the interest of Romania and the European Union”.