Event report

USR PLUS Manifesto on the Future of Europe. Citizens are invited to the debate on Europe Day, the USR PLUS delegation to the European Parliament presented the USR PLUS vision for tomorrow’s Europe and the party’s proposals for the Conference on the Future of Europe. The proposals take the form of a manifesto to which citizens are invited to contribute. The Manifesto is the starting point for the Conference on the Future of Europe, which will last at least one year and set out the EU’s directions for the coming years. “Discussion about the future of Europe is important both from the perspective of the European priorities to be put to the table — and citizens are invited to express their opinion — but also from the perspective of the functioning of the EU: how to share decision-making power at European level, how to have a better heard and listened voice at international level. We are now at a stage where we need to make European decisions more inclusive. Let us talk of a European Union of citizens because, in my view, in the coming years, if we do not have a European Union that trusts citizens, we will not have a European Union at all or, in any event, will not be effective. In the European Parliament, we beaten us as a key word for citizens, not just politicians, elected representatives of the EP or national parliaments, not just members of the governments of the Member States ", said Dacian Cioloș, President Renew Europe and Co-Chair USR PLUS. “Today’s Manifesto launched by USR PLUS is designed to summarise our ideas at the Conference on the Future of Europe. These ideas are just a start for a broad debate we want to have with citizens. The EU has a huge impact on the daily lives of all Europeans, since 70 % of the legislation applicable in any of the Member States actually comes from the European institutions. The solutions we propose? For example, on the side of effective citizen involvement, USR PLUS proposes to have a consultation exercise such as the Conference not every 10 years or every 5 years, but every year. Citizens’ views should not only be a question of ticking, but should be taken into account very seriously. With regard to changes in institutional architecture, we propose the introduction of the right of legislative initiative for the EP and we consider that there is a need for more transparency in the way of nomination in important positions at European level ", said the MEP USR PLUS Alin Mituța. “The Conference on the Future of Europe is also about what we need to do to make the almost 500 million EU citizens feel supported and represented in this project as they deserve. As regards the Justice chapter, we first forget to ensure effective, genuine, non-discriminatory access to justice for all citizens of Europe, we also forget funding so that the system addresses the needs of professionals and civil society. We must also look at the framework for combating major crime, be it the exercise of the public official’s mandate or the big organised crime networks. A top priority for us is Romania’s participation in the Schengen area ", said USR PLUS Ramona Strugariu MEP. ‘Winston Churchill said: “A pessimistic sees in every opportunity an obstacle, but an optimist sees every obstacle as an opportunity”. If I were to characterise these almost two years since I took over the mandates given by Romanians, I would say that I tried to seize any opportunity to strengthen Romania’s voice in the EU. When it comes to the future of Europe, the EU cannot be a financial giant, a place where European funds only come from, and in some cases be a legislative mygnon. I believe that there is a need to clarify some competences and tools. There is an expectation on the part of the citizen that when his state is unprepared or unable to respond, the EU will intervene in the rescue suit. I see a Union of Solidarity in Health and a Health Union, also setting a common standard of health. How would we have a European minimum health standard? How should nobody be left behind? How to make joint purchases for medicines that are not found in some countries? "said USR PLUS PLUS Ștefnuță MEP. “Romania’s entry into the EU was our greatest achievement since 1989 and it was the moment that brought us more certainty in terms of democracy and economic development. Where do we need to go? I believe that the EU needs to be closer to citizens and I believe that changes should be made so that the European institutions can get involved where the state fails to solve all the problems. For example, the issue of pensions and pensioners. We talk about people who have worked for a whole life, have contributed to the pension system and have the right to a life of dignity, tihnite. It is up to the State to ensure that nothing is missing. They are States where that is the case, but are countries that have great problems in ensuring a decent living for pensioners. Unfortunately, Romania is also among them. In areas and countries where there are serious problems, I believe that the EU should be able to intervene, request and carry out analyses of the system that does not work, provide solutions based on the experience of countries where things go very well. We must not be afraid to learn from each other, change things that do not go ", said USR MEP PLUS Vlad Botoș. “The first idea for the future of Europe is the clear link between economic and social. These are major transformations that are taking place. On the one hand, in the economic area, we are discussing the completion of the European project, the Capital Markets Union, the Banking Union, the idea of economic governance and the Stability and Growth Pact. On the other hand, on the social area we all see one thing: in the pandemic, we saw how important solidarity is. We have seen that we cannot discuss the future of Europe without talking about the most important part of it: citizens. Europe is not only about millions of euros in a budget, but about millions of citizens who create the future of Europe ", also highlighted USR PLUS MEP Dragoș Pîslaru. “I believe that more Citizens’ Information Offices should be set up in Romania’s historical regions and online information campaigns should be carried out. Europe affects the lives of every citizen, while every citizen cannot say that it knows exactly how much it affects their lives and their state of European citizenship, we cannot say that we have all the information about what we are doing at the European Parliament, what the European Commission and the Council do, how the European mechanisms work. I believe that this information is still far from people. It is very important that people have real contact with an EU office, EU representatives to explain how things work, what European values and policies are, what rights they have as citizens and how they can exercise them ", explained the USR PLUS MEP Vlad Gheorghe. “When we want to think about the future of Europe we cannot ignore the geopolitical context. We are at the crossroads of geopolitical interests. The first priority is to relaunch the transatlantic dialogue with the United States of America, to find energy to act together to give credibility to what the strength of liberal democracies globally means. Then I am the relationship with China and Russia. In terms of EU enlargement, we need to have an ambitious enlargement policy for the two geographical and historical areas that are part of Europe: The Balkans and the Eastern Partnership countries. Moldova is also on our priority list of Romania, and we will have to fight every day, we must not and cannot afford to forget Moldova ", also said USR PLUS MEP Dragoș Tudorache. The Future of Europe Manifesto is the starting point of the USR PLUS delegation in the European Parliament in the debates of the Conference on the Future of Europe. More information can also be found on the Future of Europe website launched today that citizens can convey the changes they see needed in the EU. USR PLUS will hold debates on each topic to which members, USR PLUS Ministers, local parliamentarians and elected representatives will be invited. Text of the Manifesto: https://viitoruleuropei.ro/.../uploads/2021/05/Manifest.pdf