Your Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Ambassadors,
Distinguished guests,
Government colleagues,
Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies,
It is an for me today, to convey, on the Day of Europe, on behalf of the Government of Romania, a message that I think is very welcome - a message of Romania’s pride to be part of the European Union, of our categorical decision to move towards greater European integration, not less, and Romania's desire to increasingly become an involved voice, a respected voice in the so important and so difficult process of change, modernization, which inevitably European structures and institutions are currently undergoing. I think it is important at this point because the whole European project is in a moment of debate, at a time of turmoil, when things do not run as well as once and discussions appear as well as doubts; the more I think Romania, in these complicated times, needs to restate without any hesitation its attachment to European values, the idea of European integration, the idea of bigger, more complex, more efficient integration and the idea that the only way that I at least as Prime Minister, my colleagues in government, in Parliament I see - is for our country a path that means the European Union, along with other 27 countries, with those who hope that we will soon join and I seize this opportunity, every opportunity to state the special support that the Romanian Government extends, and the importance it attaches to the idea of EU enlargement, first of all, towards the Republic of Moldova, towards the Western Balkans area, towards all the other states sharing the European values.
I think it is high time that Romania can, through a pro-European Government – and half of the Cabinet members are present here, on this occasion, exactly that a message in this respect – can very clearly say: we believe in the European idea, in the European future of Romania and we think that together we can find answers to all questions facing both politicians, decision – makers, especially the population of European countries. The discussion may seem simple, austerity or economic growth and development – seems to be simple. I want to say that Romania, in this period managed to find the answer to both questions. On the other hand, we count among the few EU states that had an important fiscal – budget consolidation, at the same time adopting measures of economic growth, jobs creation, and consumption stimulation. It does not mean that the Romanian method is necessarily a method to export. But I think this entitles us to be more optimistic. Regarding the role and place of Romania, from a pupil always in the back of the class, and eventually, brought in front of the class to be scolded, to an active member, strong and involved in all decisions about to be made at European level.
I am thinking now, only in the very near future, about the fact that in few weeks, within the European Council, there will be discussed the development of energy sector, and here, Romania has a heavy word to say, an important potential, as there follows discussions on the economic and monetary union, competitiveness, the way Romania learnt from past years how to better use European funds for the development of agriculture, on topics which mean in fact, not only a discussion for the few European citizens in management positions, but for every citizen of Romania and every citizen of Europe.
Dangers are quite high and I can say that populism, pessimism, even if there are in Romania too, they are probably lower than in most old EU countries. In Romania, I am very proud and I still wish that those politicians, those leaders who promote anti-European discourse remain simple isolated message carriers. I think most responsible political class, civil society, representatives of the economic world understands very well that such a populist and extremist speech can possibly bring you some votes and some praise for an increased rating to a television, but in no case, can it provide solutions to the problems of Romania and I hope the same thing happens in the future.
At the same time, I am living in Romania, in this region which during history faced serious threats posed by radical nationalist extremism. I want to think that Europe is a place of all nations, of all minorities, and that in the coming years, chauvinistic, nationalist, extremist discourse will have no impact and will not have supporters anywhere in EU. I have great confidence in Romania's European path. I want to thank the Irish Presidency for the way it handled this difficult semester, in fact, pretty much as all semesters that follow, I want to express my confidence that the next semester, under the chairmanship of Lithuania, Romania will achieve its immediate stage objectives that it has to fulfill and to tell that although I do not suffer from an excess of optimism or naivety, I think I am duty bound , together with my colleagues, with all politicians, to start already to prepare for the Romania’s future Chairmanship of EU in 2019 – it seems like an eternity for politicians, but it often happened in Romania to say it is "a lot of time until that event" and to wake up the day before that we are not prepared, maybe we start preparing early this time and in 2019, we will be a truly European country, a country that meets all standards and that can be a model and partner for all other EU members. If it is a too ambitious target, I'm ready to undertake it. I want to say once again and to wish the dream called "European construction" as much success in the coming years. Thank you.