GLOBAL ISSUES OF THE 21st CENTURY

TASK: 1
TASK TITLE: European Citizenship

Submitted by: Savulescu Madalina Cristina

Country: Romania
Study field: HANTAL (HWB)
Number on the name list: 96

Name of the Guest Lecturer: Bart Dhaenens

Name of the Coordinator: Eveline Le Roy

1. If you were an MEP, what would be your priorities?

If I were a Member of European Parliament for my country, Romania, one of my
priorities would be developing and promoting the traditional culture from every country, even if
we talk about the culinary specific from each state or any other customs that could encourage the
tourism within European Union.
Also, I think it is important to have a minimum income in the whole Europe. Definitely,
the income cannot be the same for all European Unions citizens, but I believe it is fair that every
state should determine the minimum income level for the citizens in balance to the GDP it
produces and the budgetary capabilities it has.
Moreover, I would promote organic farming. Organic food means health for people and
environment, but in Romania, few farms can afford to produce organic aliments. So, I would
support organic production from the EU budget, as more Romanian farmers could produce in an
organic way, and the organic aliments could be easier to find.

2. What issues should remain at a local level and not be

the responsibility of the EU?
The issues that should remain at a local level would be, according to my opinion,
measures related to increasing the human capital: better education and training of human
resources, adapting professional qualifications to labor market requirements, combating early
school leaving. Also, measures related to increasing employment: employment diversification,
development of equal employment opportunities, including for people living in rural areas,
increasing youth employment, salaries attractive enough to combat labor migration, promoting
active aging.
It is also necessary a sustained campaign of understanding and awareness the
phenomenon of aging population.
Moreover, reducing the physical isolation of the regions, by creating new routes and
promoting and enhancing their potential at a national and European level; urban revitalization,
rehabilitation of aging urban infrastructure needs to be considered for increasing the
attractiveness of cities and urban areas, which is currently in decline. These all issues should
remain at a local level.

3. What should Europes relationship be with its

neighbors /future members? An expanding EU with
new members: yes or no? And why?
In my opinion, Europe should encourage the other countries to be a part of the European
Union, as every European country has the right to apply for EU membership if it has the ability
to take full EU legislation and it is ready to accept the euro currency. Enlargement is the most
ambitious project undertaken by the EU: it represents, in fact, the reunification of the European
continent that was politically and economically split after the last World War.
Enlargement means, a continuation of the EUs original objective, like healing Europes
divisions and creating a closer union of its people. By accepting new members who respect and
apply the political criteria, the Union is re-stating the fundamental values that underpin it. What I
would like to emphasize, is that the enlargement would spread stability and prosperity,
strengthening the Unions role in world affairs : in foreign and security policy, trade policy and
the other fields of global governance.
Another benefit would be a better quality of life for citizens throughout Europe, as the
new members adopt EU policies for protection of the environment and fight against crime, drugs
and illegal immigration.
Also, we live in a world of emerging superpowers. A bigger EU will be a better place to
make its values respected. Strategically important countries like Turkey with its 75 million
citizens and dynamic economy, and an industrial powerhouse like Ukraine (45 million) would
bring a huge power boost for Europe.

4. Who is the European Commissioner of your country?

Why is he/she chosen?
In Romania, the European Commissioner is Corina Cret u, member of Socialists and
Democrats national political party, and also member of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and
Democrats in the European Parliament. Corina Cret u has been nominated as commissioner for
Regional Policy.

She was chosen because she insisted that she will have zero tolerance against corruption
and on the need of quality projects. Also, she said her priority is to make sure that the
contribution on Regional Policy is maximized to create jobs and economic growth.
In 2010, she opened in Brussels the Tenth Conference of the Parliamentary Network on
the World Bank, as member of the PNoWB (Parliamentary Network of the World Bank).
She is also the organizer of the hearing entitled Palestine-reconstruction and
development, where Tony Blair participated and where she pleaded for the European Union to
become an important factor in implementing a sustainable peaceful solution in the region.
Corina Cret u is Vice President of the European Parliament, elected to this position in
July 2014, with 406 votes.

REFERENCES

12 Lessons on Europe, by Pascal Fontaine, 2010

Enlarging the European Union. Achivements and Challenges Report, by Wim Kok, to
the European Commission

www.ec.europa.eu/enlargement/archives/press_corners/basic_arguments_en.htm

www.debatingeurope.eu/focus/infobox-arguments-for-and-against-eu-enlargement

www.dacianasarbu.ro/2014/07/17

www.ec.europa.eu/enlargement/archives/questions_and_answers/1-10_en.htm

www.europedecides.eu/candidates/election-lists/ro