Romania is part of the European project and must continue on this path, said interim President Ilie Bolojan on Friday in a message delivered for Europe Day.

„The European Union also stands for values: democracy, the rule of law, freedom, solidarity. Values that give us a stable framework to develop. Without them, we would be much more vulnerable and isolated. Romania is part of this European project, and we must stay on this path. Europe is not something abstract. Europe is us. And our future is directly tied to our ability to stay engaged, informed and responsible,” said Bolojan.

He brought to mind the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, the founding act of the European Project, „a project of peace, unity and a shared future.”

This year also marks 18 years since Romania became a member of the European Union.

„It was one of the most important decisions we made as a country, because since then, Romania has taken real steps toward development, stability, and modernisation. We gained access to investments, to projects that have transformed our communities, to funds that made it possible to modernise hospitals, schools, roads and infrastructure,” the interim president said.

He also addressed the younger generations.

„For young people, Europe means much more than the freedom to travel. It means access to quality education anywhere in the Union. It means programmes like Erasmus+, which offer real opportunities for personal and professional growth. It means equal opportunities and the possibility to build your future, here or anywhere in Europe, with respect, safety and guaranteed rights,” Bolojan pointed out.

The interim president encouraged them to take action.

„Dear young people, your voice matters. Through ideas, through involvement, through voting. Not just on Europe Day, but every day. Europe is built every day, and you are the ones who will carry this project forward,” concluded Ilie Bolojan.

AGERPRES