The Vice-President of the European Parliament, PSD MEP Victor Negrescu told ECOPOLITIC in an interview from Brussels about the event he is sponsoring, the Romanian Digital Day in the European Parliament. „1% of Romania’s GDP is at this conference, which is extraordinary,” Negrescu says. The MEP believes we need European solutions to combat foreign interference.

VICTOR NEGRESCU: ”Cred este un momentul oportun pentru a puncta ce își dorește România de la Bruxelles, pe componenta digitală”

ECOPOLITIC: Romanian Digital Day in the European Parliament. Third edition. How is it different, especially in the current context?

Victor Negrescu: First of all, it is extraordinary that we have reached the third edition. This event has become a tradition for the Romanian digital sector, first of all, but also for Brussels. We have over 200 relevant, influential players in the field, both from Romania and here in Brussels. This is why we have a consistent presence. European Commissioners, MEPs, but also owners of very large companies at national level. I also said that we have 1% of Romania’s GDP at this conference, which is extraordinary.

What we have also done is to come up with concrete public policy proposals. We have a framework document with concrete actions. For example, we want 30% of the European Competitiveness Plan to go to the digital transformation area

But also to come with measures to reduce fragmentation and create a common European market.

Last but not least, I think that the important element of this year’s edition is that this event is taking place at a crucial moment, when we are discussing the future long-term European budget, we are discussing defense policy, we are discussing the Draghi report and, consequently, I think it is an opportune moment to point out what Romania wants from Brussels, on the digital component.

ECOPOLITIC: I noticed that there are representatives at the top of the institutions on cybersecurity in Romania. What can you tell us about this aspect, also in a questionable context at this time?

Victor Negrescu: We have here all the authorities responsible for the area of digitalization in Romania, but also the Polish presidency of the European Council, which is even responsible for this topic of foreign interference. What I can tell you is that we obviously need European solutions to combat foreign interference. We need the European Commission to be much more effective in implementing the European regulations in this area and, as you have noticed, the Member States are going to discuss carefully what needs to be done, both for the elections in Romania and for the elections in Poland, so that we can ensure that there is no longer such a big impact of this interference and react promptly and in terms of communication, because, yes, there were problems last year and we need to correct them.

Europe has a responsibility towards Romania, but Romania certainly needs to do more in this regard too, and the representatives of the authorities have set out the ideas they have for the future.

ECOPOLITIC: From the point of view of foreign trade possibilities, can Romania also enter a digital solutions trade zone, an export of the digital zone to other countries? Given all the things that are happening in Romania in the digital area, could we eventually become exporters of digital solutions?

VICTOR NEGRESCU: „Romania’s foreign trade can develop investments in digitalization, but Romania’s trade balance can also be corrected if we invest more in this sector”

Victor Negrescu: Romania’s digital sector represents between 6% and 8% of GDP, depending on the context, obviously, but an important share and I think we can reach more than 10% of GDP if we invest more in digital transformation. Yes, we had an outsourcing-based industry. We basically delivered services, at a low cost, to our partners in the West.

But we need a change, a new phase. Basically to move from outsourcing to designing and producing globally competitive products and services. And we have several successful companies in this respect.

We need Romanian unicorns, those companies that are worth over a billion dollars. We need companies that produce services. We need more entrepreneurs in Romania. Yes, I believe that Romania’s foreign trade can develop investment in digitalization, but Romania’s trade balance can also be corrected if we invest more in this sector, which has very high added value.