Two Romanians in the EP leadership
Romania has two vice-presidents in the European Parliament: Victor Negrescu (S&D) and Nicolae Ştefănuţă (Greens).
Corina Cristea, 17.07.2024, 14:00
Two of the 14 vice-presidents of the new European Parliament are Romanians: Victor Negrescu and Nicolae Ştefănuţă, who were elected in the first round of voting, on Tuesday, in the first session of the EP. Victor Negrescu ran on behalf of the Social-Democrats group, and Nicolae Ştefănuţă on behalf of the Greens, but both enjoyed the support of the parliamentary majority formed around the People’s Party, Social-Democrats and Liberals from Renew. Aged 38, Victor Negrescu represented Romania as a member of the European Parliament (2014 – 2017, 2020 – present), also holding other administrative roles in the European Parliament, such as quaestor and vice-president of the Education and Culture Commission. Last but not least, Victor Negrescu was appointed chief negotiator of the European Parliament regarding the European budget for 2025.
The new vice-president Victor Negrescu said that he would seek to be more than a vice-president of the European Parliament, that he would continue to be a strong voice for Romanians at the level of European institutions because today, more than ever, we must demonstrate that we can count and that we can impose our points of view with professionalism, while also pointing out that he appeared before the MEPs with three clear priorities: democratization and opening of the European Parliament to citizens, respect for all MEPs from all member states and strengthening the role of the Parliament in the European decision-making process.
Victor Negrescu: “I would like to influence the budget of this institution and the decision-making process at the level of several committees in the European Parliament, so that the agenda of the European Parliament should correspond more closely to the agenda of the citizens.”
The other vice-president from Romania, Nicolae Ştefănuţă (42), an MEP since 2019, has obtained the current MEP mandate as an independent, but in the European Parliament he is affiliated with the Greens, the fourth largest group in the European legislature, a group which, although not officially within the majority, supports the idea of isolating the extremes.
Nicolae Ştefănuţă: “The Greens are participating in the sanitary cordon, in this initiative to preserve the pro-European center and we want to show that we are serious partners. I hope that the other groups will also be serious partners for the governance of this continent.”
He also added that it is an honor for him to become vice-president of the European Parliament today, but also a great responsibility. He aims to bring Parliament closer to people, especially young people. The social crisis, inequality and discrimination make young people worried about the future. We, the entire office of the Parliament, have the duty to show them that European democracy works, that their rights are respected and that their voice is heard, said Nicolae Ştefănuţă. (LS)
