Dacian CIOLOȘ (RO), Renew Group leader, speaks to the press in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Strasbourg

press conference

CIOLOŞ, Dacian (Renew, RO)

Renew Europe

Press conference by Dacian CIOLOȘ (RO), Renew Europe Group leader - Renew briefing to the press

SOUNDBITE (French), Dacian CIOLOȘ (RO), Renew Group leader, Thank you and good morning. I'm delighted to see you here in Strasbourg. Although for the majority of our work, we've been working remotely. We have some important issues on the plenary agenda in Strasbourg. I'll be starting with the issue of the rule of law, the Rule of law mechanism. Last year, we achieved European legislation on the matter.

SOUNDBITE (French), Dacian CIOLOȘ (RO), Renew Group leader, If we look at the reports on the rule of law in the member states last year, there were a number of member states for which there was a problem. And we sought speedy action from the Commission in order to start to implement the legislation on the Mechanisms of conditionality on the rule of law. There was an idea regarding guidelines that came out, we think the legislation is sufficiently clear on implementation.

SOUNDBITE (French), Dacian CIOLOȘ (RO), Renew Group leader, Of course, it would be great if the commission came up with guidelines, nevertheless, from our point of view, it can't be an excuse for not acting and that is what we are going to be saying again. In the resolution that we adopt at this plenary session, we're going to mention that clearly and. It's going to be the legal key for the parliament to launch Article 56 and call for inaction on the part of the commission if the commission doesn't start to show that it is being active during the two weeks after adoption in plenary.

SOUNDBITE (French), Dacian CIOLOȘ (RO), Renew Group leader, For the European Parliament and for Renew, this is an important point because we have a lot of money being spent by European taxpayers and we need to ensure that the money is correctly spent. Also, there is no political game being played, activating the mechanism were justified where there are problems in member states.

SOUNDBITE (French), Dacian CIOLOȘ (RO), Renew Group leader, It will also enable us to put an end for once and for all to the idea that the rule of law is a political weapon to attack one politician or another. There have been lots of European politicians who, when we talk about rule of law, say that somebody has a personal problem with somebody else.

SOUNDBITE (French), Dacian CIOLOȘ (RO), Renew Group leader, We need to note that we're dealing with systems and not individuals, and everybody has to respect the values and principles enforced in Europe, regardless of who they are and what they earn and their position in the individual member states.

SOUNDBITE (French), Dacian CIOLOȘ (RO), Renew Group leader, This resolution is important for our group. It's the final signal that we're sending to the Commission to show that the European Parliament is going to be playing a role and the European Parliament needs to ensure that the Commission respects European legislation and implements it.

SOUNDBITE (French), Dacian CIOLOȘ (RO), Renew Group leader, Another point that's on the agenda has to do with the vaccination strategy and the whole discussion on the production patent, the trips waivers. We'll have a resolution text on the table. The majority position in our group is, to say, that the problem to be resolved when it comes to access to vaccines in third countries will not be resolved by way of the trips waivers. The problem is far more complex, and we first need to ensure that there are no problems when it comes to exportation.

SOUNDBITE (French), Dacian CIOLOȘ (RO), Renew Group leader, There are countries, including the USA, that are coming with these revolutionary proposals to eliminate these waivers, but they're blocking exports and the fastest way of providing access to third countries to vaccines is to eliminate any kind of export blocks. That's what the European Union does. The European Union was the first to do so, and I think it's the only region in the world that isn't blocking vaccines exports.

SOUNDBITE (French), Dacian CIOLOȘ (RO), Renew Group leader, So from our point of view, the short term solution for speedy access to vaccines is not to prevent exports. Of vaccines and raw materials, and second, it's necessary to invest to create production capacity in third countries. That's what will enable us to ensure access by these countries to vaccines sustainably.

SOUNDBITE (French), Dacian CIOLOȘ (RO), Renew Group leader, Then Belarus, another important matter on the agenda. We welcome the fact that for once, the Council has had a speedy reaction. In fact, the European Union reacted swiftly when the Ryanair flight was brought down. But now we need to make sure that all of the decisions are implemented. We welcome the decisions that seek to ban access by Belarus companies to European airspace, but also we need economic financial measures.

SOUNDBITE (French), Dacian CIOLOȘ (RO), Renew Group leader, We need to cut all access by the Lukashenko regime to European resources in one way or another, we need to send out a signal that we are taking what happened very seriously. And the Lukashenko regime. Was trying to impose its power and directly attack citizens against the regime. We need to show that this is not acceptable, not only by way of declarations and statements, but also by action.

SOUNDBITE (French), Dacian CIOLOȘ (RO), Renew Group leader, We've also asked for a resolution on the European. Relaunch plan, recovery plan, rather. We want to show that the European Parliament wants to play its role. And ensure scrutiny of the activities of the commission. In terms of how national strategic plans are approved and then implemented.

SOUNDBITE (French), Dacian CIOLOȘ (RO), Renew Group leader, To ensure that the reforms anticipated are truly implemented and that European investment is also going towards projects that strengthen industrial autonomy and create competencies, we want to ensure that these are long term investments and not just to solve short term problems. If they're going to be long term, we need strategic investment and investment in people, men and women, and young people in order to create digital competence, as well as other forms of competence to ensure that all sectors are covered.

SOUNDBITE (French), Dacian CIOLOȘ (RO), Renew Group leader, We will also be paying close attention to the risk of fraud, we need to ensure that European money is spent correctly and that it doesn't reach the pockets of the corrupt. That's why the EPPO has started its work. The EPPO will have financial resources and all necessary resources to carry out its work.

SOUNDBITE (French), Dacian CIOLOȘ (RO), Renew Group leader, I'd just like to take advantage of your presence in Strasbourg or my presence, rather, to get involved in debates on the Future of Europe conference on the 19th, there will be the first plenary session of this conference. Citizen debates have already started. My French colleagues and also the group will be organising a debate here in Strasbourg tomorrow evening, in order to start thinking about what we need to improve when it comes to how Europe functions, so those are the issues, if you have any questions or queries, I'd like to answer them.