A new European Parliament

Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta has hailed the reelection of Martin Schulz as President of the European Parliament.

România Internațional, 02.07.2014, 14:24

“He is a man I trust, who has always defended the interests of the European citizens and has supported Romania within the EU” said Victor Ponta about the European Parliament President, wishing him good luck.

Supported by social-democrats and the European People’s Party, Martin Schulz has been reelected president of the European Parliament. He is the first President in the history of the European Parliament to be re-elected for a second 2 and a half year term in office. Among the priorities that Schulz has placed on top of his fresh working agenda are youth unemployment, financial reforms, the digital agenda and a common asylum policy.

Martin Schulz has stated that the European Parliament must invest everything it can in the fight against youth unemployment, as unemployment destroys trust in the European institutions. “As President of the European Parliament my number one priority will be to make sure that European money will be invested in jobs for the young generation” the European Parliament President said.

According to Schulz, the EU will manage to solve its internal problem only when the problems of the regions where such issues emerge have been solved. There are things that have been neglected because of the economic crisis, and that is why dramatic things happening around, such as the civil war in Syria and the waves of immigrants coming from that country have been somehow neglected. There are challenges that occur everyday, such as the disbandment of Iraq, the radicalization of some of the countries neighboring the EU, the dismantling of entire states, Schulz has also said. In his opinion, such things must not be underestimated and debates on how the refugee situation must be managed are not enough; more money is needed for the development policy as well. Financial reforms must continue. Negotiations with the US regarding the free trade agreement will continue and they are going to be tough, so we all know we need a Charter of Fundamental Digital Rights, Shultz has also stated, also pleading for a common asylum granting policy, a justice for people and an energy policy that would ensure independence in this field.

The fight against climate change will also play a major role, said the Social Democrat Martin Schulz, who was elected president of the European Parliament for the first time in January 2012. In the second half of the current legislature, the leadership of the European Parliament will be held by a representative of the People’s Party. Romanian MEPs Corina Cretu and Adina Valean will be two of the 14 vice-presidents of the European Parliament.