Romania is „a strong country” and should take up the role of „influential and significant player” in its region, European Parliament Deputy Speaker Victor Negrescu said on Monday.
„The developments on the international scene are increasingly worrying, but we have always believed that, in times of crisis, we must focus on solutions. I believe in Romania, in a strong country, which professionally takes up its role at European and international level. We are not just an ally, we have to be an influential and significant player in making decisions regarding the future of our region,” the MEP wrote in a social media post on Monday.
He indicated five „essential” guidelines for the country’s foreign policy.
One would be to establish direct contact with the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, „ideally” before the meeting of EU leaders in Paris.
„Subsequently, a meeting has to be quickly organised to discuss the issues touched on at the informal meeting. Romania should present its arguments, but also demonstrate that, in the future, it has to take part in the discussions on the future of the EU and those regarding the situation in our region,” Negrescu said.
He also highlighted the restart of the partnership with Poland by urgently establishing a meeting between the two governments.
„I know that this approach is in preparation, but the process should be sped up. It is essential to sign a new cooperation agreement in the areas of defence, the fight against cyber threats and the development of an effective consultation mechanism in European affairs and within NATO. At the same time, we have to strengthen our role in the region by strengthening the eastern flank.”
Negrescu added that it is also necessary to establish contact with high-ranking US officials, such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, or even Vice President J.D. Vance.
„The meeting must be prepared very well, so as to include clear information about the [voided]presidential election in Romania, the situation in the region, Romania’s key role and concrete proposals for future collaboration with the US.”
In Negrescu’s opinion, it is also necessary to launch an „extensive process” of public consultations on Romania’s future at European and international level, „with clear directions and a coherent strategy.”
„From the professional training of civil servants and the reform of our external action, to citizen consultations and structured dialogue with experts, all these initiatives have to be integrated into a new international agenda. Romania must matter externally.”
According to the MEP, „without a solid domestic policy, it is almost impossible to be relevant externally.”
Other necessary actions mentioned by Negrescu are convening the Supreme Council for National Defence (CSAT), appointing heads of defence services with a very good reputation, setting a deadline for submitting all data on foreign interference and illegal actions regarding the elections in Romania, rethinking the national budget in relation to the new realities, adapting the defence and security budget to the new conditions, developing a strategy in the field of defence industry and correlating the military acquisition plan with the objectives of foreign policy.
In order to achieve these objectives, Romania must mobilise „all the necessary resources”: „We can no longer divide people by political hues, and we cannot afford to remain blocked by the same people who have not demonstrated the capacity for rapid action in the area of foreign and European policy. These days, Romania’s future is being decided at European and international level. History will judge those who have not lived up to expectations, as, unfortunately, inaction can cost us all.”
AGERPRES
