Şerban Dimitrie STURDZA

What Şerban Dimitrie STURDZA has said (13)

• 2025-09-04 “E-003420/2025 Answer given by Ms Lahbib on behalf of the European Commission Freedom from gender-based violence’ is the first Principle in the Declaration of Principles for a gender equal society, annexed to the Roadmap for Women’s Rights 1 . Upholding this principle includes preventing and combating all forms of violence against women, including femicide. Concrete actions will be set out in the Gender Equality Strategy post-2025. Under the current Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025, the Commission, as coordinating body of the EU, is working on the implementation of the Istanbul Convention. In addition, following the adoption of the Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence 2 , the Commission is supporting Member States to ensure complete and timely transposition by June 2027. The measures of prevention, support, protection and access to justice apply to any victim of offences of violence against women and domestic violence, including femicide 3 . The Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence requires Member States to collect data on the annual number of reported offences and convictions, number of killed victims, number and capacity of shelters and number of calls to national helplines, disaggregated by sex, victim’s and offender’s age group, their relationship and type of offence 4 . The Commission has furthermore created an EU Network on the prevention of gender-based and domestic violence to provide Member States and stakeholders with a space to discuss new issues of violence prevention and exchange good practices 5 . 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52025DC0097. 2 Directive (EU) 2024/1385 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on combating violence against women and domestic violence, OJ L, 2024/1385, 24.5.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2024/1385/oj, Recital 9. 3 See Article 1(2) and recital 9. 4 Directive (EU) 2024/1385, Article 44. 5 https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/genderequality/gender-based-violence/ending-gender-basedviolence_en#:~:text=On%2029%20November%202023%20the%20Commission%20established%20an,and%20 consist%20of%20Member%20State%20officials%20and%20stakeholders.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• 2025-06-02 “P-002191/2025 Answer given by Mr Kubilius on behalf of the European Commission The ReArm Europe plan 1 provides for the flexibility needed by Member States to undertake greater defence investment in the short term, without compromising their macroeconomic stability in the medium term. On the one hand, the possibility offered for a coordinated activation of the national escape clause (NEC) of the Stability and Growth Pact 2 offers flexibility of up to 1.5% of the 2021 gross domestic product for each year of activation of the clause until 2029. On the other hand, Member States can benefit from financial assistance under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument, 3 in the form of loans guaranteed by the EU budget. SAFE loans are long maturity (45 years), have a grace period of 10 years and benefit from the flexibility under NEC, if activated. In addition, EU defence industry programmes support the competitiveness of the European defence industry mostly through grants. The European Defence Fund 4 has been contributing to the research and development of European defence technologies and capabilities, whilst the Act in support of ammunition production (ASAP) 5 has provided support to the ramp-up of the European capacity of production of ammunition and missiles, and the programme for the European defence industry reinforcement through common procurement (EDIRPA) has financially incentivised the common acquisition of defence products 6 . The proposed European Defence Industry Programme 7 is meant to integrate the intervention logics validated through the implementation of ASAP and EDIRPA and to propose additional intervention logics, to further support the defence industrial readiness of the European defence and technological industrial base. 1 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_793. 2 https://economy-finance.ec.europa.eu/economic-and-fiscal-governance/stability-and-growth-pact_en. 3 Council Regulation (EU) 2025/1106 of 27 May 2025 establishing the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) through the Reinforcement of the European Defence Industry Instrument, http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2025/1106/oj. 4 https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/eu-defence-industry/european-defence-fund-edf-official-webpageeuropean-commission_en. 5 https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/eu-defence-industry/asap-boosting-defence-production_en. 6 https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/eu-defence-industry/edirpa-addressing-capability-gaps_en. 7 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A52024PC0150.”
  Defence spending · EU competences on defence
• 2025-06-02 “E-001466/2025 EN E-2190/2025 Answer given by Mr McGrath on behalf of the European Commission Respect for the rights of persons belonging to minorities is one of the founding values of the European Union and is a principle explicitly mentioned in the Treaty on European Union. The EU is equipped with specific instruments on combatting discrimination, racism and xenophobia to ensure that, within the remit of its competences, on specific grounds, such as ethnicity or race, minorities are not discriminated against. Member States retain general powers to take decisions about minorities, in particular, over issues relating to the recognition of the status of minorities, their self-determination and autonomy or the regime governing the use of regional or minority languages. Recommendation 1201 1 is an instrument of the Council of Europe, which is not part of EU law. Outside the implementation of EU law, it is for Member States, including Romania, to ensure compliance with their constitutional order and their obligations under international law. Moreover, Article 165 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) 2 limits the role of the EU in the area of education to supporting and supplementing Member States’ actions, while fully respecting the responsibility of the Member States for the content of teaching and the organisation of education systems (which includes the languages used in education) and their cultural and linguistic diversity. The European Commission monitors Member States’ education policies under the European Education Area cooperation framework in the annual publication of the Education and Training Monitor 3 and carries out country analyses, including in the fields of education and training, as part of the European Semester. 4 1 Council of Europe, Parliamentary assembly, Recommendation 1201 (1993) https://pace.coe.int/en/files/15235/html 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:41f89a28-1fc6-4c92-b1c803327d1b1ecc.0007.02/DOC_1&format=PDF 3 https://op.europa.eu/webpub/eac/education-and-training-monitor/en/ 4 https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/european-semester_en”
  EU competences on human rights · EU and national cultural identities
• 2025-06-02 “E-002189/2025 Answer given by President von der Leyen on behalf of the European Commission 1. On 10 June 2025, the Commission released a third payment of EUR 1.3 billion to Romania under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). Romania has now received EUR 10.6 billion or 35 % of total available funds, with 27 % of all milestones and targets successfully completed so far. Romania’s recovery and resilience plan (RRP) contains major investments in energy-efficiency renovations and rooftop solar installations – especially for energy-poor and vulnerable households. While the RRP does not include reforms related to energy subsidies, these investments aim at lowering energy bills and will be assessed in Romania’s upcoming payment requests. Romania, like all Member States, has until 31 August 2026 to meet its remaining milestones. Final disbursements are to be made by 31 December 2026. The Commission continues to support Romanian authorities in ensuring successful implementation, in line with the latest guidance 1 . 2. Romania is required to uphold the independence and autonomy of its energy regulatory authority, ensuring that it operates impartially and transparently 2 . This obligation stems from Article 57 of Directive (EU) 2019/944 on the internal market for electricity 3 and Article 76 of Directive 2024/1788 on common rules for the internal markets for renewable gas, natural gas and hydrogen 4 . The Commission is closely monitoring compliance with these provisions. If any breaches occur, the Commission may take the necessary action to ensure compliance of EU law. 3. Romania has access to substantial EU funding for energy efficiency through RRF, Cohesion Policy and the Social Climate Fund 5 . Romania should prioritise renovation measures for energy-poor vulnerable households, while ensuring full absorption of available funding. 1 https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/ad5f00c9-4101-41a0-9d8fe78f06c0c7ed_en?filena%20me%20=%20COM_2025_310_1_EN_ACT_part1_v8.pdf. 2 In particular, Romania must guarantee that the staff and decision-makers of the regulatory authority act free from any market influence and do not seek or accept direct instructions from government bodies, public authorities, or private entities while performing their regulatory duties. 3 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32019L0944. 4 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32024L1788&qid=1751556730282. 5 Romania benefits of more than EUR 7 billion allocated to energy under RRF - a large share supporting energy efficiency renovations in buildings, including EUR 550 million via financial instruments which focus, among other things, on energy efficiency and renewable energy. Under cohesion policy, Romania receives more than EUR 1.5 billion for energy-efficiency in buildings, including EUR 376 million from European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for financial instruments. Additionally, Romania could benefit of up to EUR 6 billion from the Social Climate Fund, which can support building renovations, reduce energy poverty, and target vulnerable households. To ensure smooth and effective implementation, it is recommended that Romanian authorities prioritise and ensure timely administrative procedures, clear decision-making, building local capacities and strong interinstitutional coordination.”
  EU approach to electricity market and prices · Energy efficiency
• 2025-04-22 “P-001600/2025 Answer given by Ms Kos on behalf of the European Commission The rights of minorities are fundamental values of the EU and are part of the Copenhagen criteria for accession to the EU. In June 2024, the Commission confirmed that Ukraine had fulfilled the requirement to enact a law addressing the remaining Venice Commission recommendations from June and October 2023 linked to respectively the law on national minorities and to the laws on state language, media and education 1 . As part of the accession process, the Commission conducted a screening of Ukraine’s alignment with the EU acquis in the field of fundamental rights, including the rights of persons belonging to national minorities. Subsequently, the EU invited Ukraine, in the negotiating framework, to prepare an Action Plan on national minorities 2 . The Commission consistently conveys the message, in bilateral contacts with Ukrainian counterparts, that it is expected that Ukraine will continue to implement the adopted legislation adequately and effectively at national and regional level, in line with European standards and as part of a constructive mutual dialogue with the representatives of national minorities. The Commission will continue to follow closely the Ukraine government’s ongoing dialogues with representatives of minorities, including the representatives of Ukraine’s Romanian national minority and in the field of education. The Commission is also assisting Ukraine in its reform efforts, by supporting the project ‘Support for implementing European standards relating to anti-discrimination and rights of national minorities in Ukraine’ implemented by the Council of Europe 3 . 1 https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/default.aspx?pdffile=CDL-AD(2023)021-e and https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/?pdf=CDL-AD(2023)028-e. 2 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/06/25/eu-opens-accession-negotiations-withukraine/. 3 https://www.coe.int/en/web/kyiv/support-for-implementing-european-standards-relating-to-anti-discriminationand-rights-of-national-minorities-in-ukraine.”
  EU-Ukraine relations · EU enlargement
• 2025-04-01 “E-001334/2025 Answer given by Mr Brunner on behalf of the European Commission As stated in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union, the EU is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. Defining the legal status of any minority is a competence of the Member States. In Hungary, different laws 12 define and recognise the status of national and ethnic minorities and of churches, religious denominations and religious communities 3 . To ensure a strong EU contribution to the future of Jews in Europe, the Commission adopted on 5 October 2021 the EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life 4 . On 15 October 2024, whilst Hungary held the Presidency of the Council, the Council approved a declaration on fostering Jewish life and combating antisemitism 5 . 1 https://njt.hu/jogszabaly/en/2011-4301-02-00. 2 https://njt.hu/jogszabaly/2011-179-00-00.56#CI. 3 https://magyarkozlony.hu/dokumentumok/f842595bffefff68f85f2aa8a0707aad6af30251/letoltes. 4 https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/combattingdiscrimination/racism-and-xenophobia/combating-antisemitism/eu-strategy-combating-antisemitism-andfostering-jewish-life-2021-2030/about-eu-strategy_en. 5 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/10/15/fostering-jewish-life-and-combatingantisemitism-council-approves-declaration/.”
  Jewish culture and antisemitism · EU policy on integration and ethnic, racial and religious discrimination
• 2025-02-06 “E-000553/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Séjourné on behalf of the European Commission 1. The Green Deal 1 aims at positioning Europe as the first climate-neutral continent in a fair, cost effective and competitive way. The Clean Industrial Deal 2 has continued this path by strengthening the business case for decarbonisation and competitiveness in the EU 3 through actions to improve access to affordable energy, lead markets, public and private investments, materials and resources, global markets, skills and quality jobs. To tailor actions to the needs of individual industries, work goes on with the preparation of sector specific plans, such as those for the automotive 4 , steel, and metal 5 sectors. The recent simplification package 6 shows the Commission’s focus also on horizontal enablers necessary for a competitive economy. 2. EU’s industry faces higher energy prices than those of our trading partners and unfair global competition due to overcapacities from other countries. To address this and support the green transition, the Commission adopted the Affordable Energy Action Plan 7 . Reducing dependency on hydrocarbons and expanding clean technologies is key for EU’s energy security. The Clean Industrial Deal targets 100 GW of renewable electricity generation and boosting recycling and use of secondary materials that require less energy than extraction and processing of virgin materials. The EU remains committed to its decarbonisation objectives. 3. In addition to strengthening its domestic supply chains and resilience, the EU remains committed to the effective implementation of critical raw materials policies through strategic partnerships with countries rich in these resources and boosting recycling. 1 https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal/deliveringeuropean-green-deal_en 2 COM(2025) 85 final of 26.2.2025. 3 See also the Competitiveness Compass communication, COM(2025) 30 final of 29.1.2025. 4 See the Industrial Action Plan for an Automotive Sector, COM(2025) 95 final of 05.3.2025. 5 See the Steel and Metals Action Plan, COM(2025) 30 final of 19.3.2025. 6 https://finance.ec.europa.eu/publications/commission-simplifies-rules-sustainability-and-eu-investmentsdelivering-over-eu6-billion_en 7 https://energy.ec.europa.eu/strategy/affordable-energy_en”
  Energy (green transition) · Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• 2025-01-22 “E-000281/2025 Answer given by Ms Kos on behalf of the European Commission In its 2023 Report on Albania 1 , the Commission called on Albania to conduct the 2023 national population and housing census in line with the relevant international standards and recommendations, including those issued by the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security Cooperation in Europe. In the 2024 Report on Albania 2 , the Commission noted that the legal framework for the protection of minorities is generally aligned with European standards and that the said census was completed in October 2023, and the preliminary results were published in June 2024. In addition, in the statistics chapter of the 2024 Report (chapter 18), the Commission called on Albania to publish detailed data and a thematic analysis of the population and housing census following the initial data release of June 2024. The Commission is not directly involved in assessing the census procedure or in validating the census data. Furthermore, ethnic minorities are not part of the EU acquis on population censuses. The conduct of the census will be reviewed by the competent international organisations, including as part of regular monitoring of rights of people belonging to minorities. The Commission acknowledged 3 that in December 2024 Albania adopted the remaining implementing legislation on the rights of persons belonging to minorities, on the crucial issues of free self-identification of national minorities and the use of minority languages, welcoming this as a progress. 1 SWD(2023) 690 final, https://neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu/document/download/ea0a4b05-683f4b9c-b7ff-4615a5fffd0b_en?filename=SWD_2023_690%20Albania%20report.pdf 2 SWD(2024) 690 final, https://neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu/document/download/a8eec3f9-b2ec4cb1-8748-9058854dbc68_en?filename=Albania%20Report%202024.pdf 3 https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/albania/european-union-%E2%80%93-albania-16th-sa-sub-committeemeeting-justice-freedom-and-security_en?s=214”
  EU-Albania relations · EU relations with Western Balkans
• 2025-01-15 “P-000148/2025 Answer given by Mr Dombrovskis on behalf of the European Commission The Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) 1 is a temporary instrument governed by the RRF Regulation. The facility finances reforms and investments in EU Member States which must be completed by 31 August 2026. It is distinct from the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2 , which constitutes the EU long-term budget. In the case of the RRF, if the Commission assesses that not all milestones and targets associated with specific instalments are satisfactorily met, the Commission can make partial payments and suspend part of the payment. Member States then have six months to take the necessary measures to ensure the satisfactory fulfilment of the relevant milestones and targets. If measures are not taken within six months, the overall amount of the financial or loan contribution under the RRF is correspondingly reduced. The implementation of Romania’s recovery and resilience plan is currently delayed due to, in particular, deficiencies in administrative capacity. In its 2024 country-specific recommendations, the Council thus asked Romania to significantly accelerate the implementation of the recovery and resilience plan by guaranteeing effective governance and strengthening administrative capacity. Like with all Member States, the Commission is working closely with Romania to support the implementation of its plan. The Commission is discussing reforms and investments, allowing the Romanian authorities identifying potential risks and possible measures in addressing them. This is done through e.g. the technical support instrument, regular meetings and an upcoming revision of the plan prepared in cooperation with the Romanian authorities, to ensure that all the investments which can be implemented by August 2026 are prioritised. 1 https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/economic-recovery/recovery-and-resilience-facility_en 2 https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/eu-budget/long-term-eu-budget/2021-2027/documents_en”
  Digitalization of public governance & administration
• 2024-11-15 “P-002550/2024 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission On 5 December 2024, Romania submitted an application for the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) 1 within the 12-week regulatory deadline. The Commission is assessing the application. If the conditions for mobilising the Fund are met, the Commission will determine the amount of financial assistance, within the limits of the financial resources available, and then propose to the Budgetary Authority to make this amount available to Romania. EUSF assistance is an expression of European solidarity aimed at covering part of the public expenditure to help the eligible State carry out essential emergency and recovery operations 2 . The EUSF assistance can be used retroactively from day one of the disaster. Under shared management, it is up to the responsible authorities to determine the use of the EUSF funding, in line with the EUSF Regulation. The Commission stands ready to advise the Romanian authorities on the best use of the funds, should they request so. In addition, Romania may benefit from the flexibilities under the 2021-2027 cohesion policy framework, introduced by the ‘RESTORE’ Regulation, entered into force on 24 December 2024 3 . This allows Member States to flexibly mobilise cohesion policy funding for reconstruction and repair actions and projects responding to natural disasters, occurred as from 1 January 2024. Furthermore, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development 4 may support farmers and rural areas hit by floods through investments in restoration of agricultural potential, advisory services, and cooperation projects. 1 Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund (OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3) as amended by Regulation (EU) No 661/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council of 15 May 2014 (OJ L 189, 27.6.2014, p. 143) and by Regulation (EU) 2020/461 of the European Parliament and the Council of 30 March 2020 (OJ L 99, 31.3.2020, p. 9). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:32002R2012 2 This means, for example, the recovery of essential infrastructure, provision of temporary accommodation to the population, cleaning-up operations, and protection of the cultural heritage. 3 Regulation (EU) 2024/3236 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 2024 amending Regulations (EU) 2021/1057 and (EU) 2021/1058 as regards Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction (RESTORE), available at the following link: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/3236/oj 4 Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 2 December 2021 establishing rules on support for strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States under the common agricultural policy (CAP Strategic Plans) and financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1305/2013 and (EU) No 1307/2013. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/2115/oj/eng#”
  Cohesion and rural funding
• 2024-09-19 “– Domnule președinte, stimați colegi, alături de colegii mei din ECR, am votat astăzi în favoarea rezoluției cu privire la situația din Venezuela, țară în care abuzul antidemocratic a ajuns la cote maxime. Trebuie să luăm atitudine! Sub regimul totalitar al președintelui Maduro, Venezuela a fost condusă spre haos. Sub egida comunismului, Maduro a continuat să distrugă ceea ce odată era mândria Americii Latine, o Venezuelă prosperă și vibrantă. Acum, în loc de prosperitate, vedem doar o populație oprimată, redusă la tăcere, lipsită de drepturi și libertăți. Peste 7,7 milioane de venezueleni au fost forțați să fugă din propria țară în căutarea unei vieți demne. Alegerile recente, declarate nedemocratice de către observatorii independenți și fraudate de Consiliul Național Electoral, nu au făcut decât să confirme dorința acestui regim de a se agăța cu putere, cu orice preț, de putere. Președintele ilegitim, Maduro, a subjugat efectiv instituțiile țării în slujba propriului său interes. Comunitatea internațională, inclusiv Uniunea Europeană, nu poate să recunoască acest regim. După decenii de conducere totalitară, Venezuela este astăzi un stat eșuat. Acestea sunt roadele comunismului. Nu putem lăsa istoria să se repete.”
• “In relation to our debate today and the discharge of the budget for 2024. I was wondering what your opinion was on the Moldovan court ruling. I was wondering whether we've spoken to the Moldovan capital about this and about their movement away from the Soviet space. What result specifically were achieved in 2024, following the financing that was provided by the eeaS and the European Commission, particularly when we're looking at consolidation of democratic institutions and rule of law in Moldova, as well as declassification of KGB files and structural changes moving away from the Russian Federation. At the same time, there's crucial infrastructure projects, which are very important for the integration of Moldova into the EU, into Europe specifically. Here I'm thinking about the rail network. And also the reconstruction of bridges on the river Prut. Also very important. So in 2024, what problems did you identify here specifically and how do you intend to adapt European financial instruments in future? Mfs in order to ensure that Moldova would be connected to the EU? Thank you.”
  EU-Moldova relations
• “I will speak in Romanian. Madam Commissioner, first of all, I want to thank you for your professionalism and the serious manner in which you treat the dialogue with the European Parliament and with us, with the MEPs. Secondly, I want to thank you personally for the answer that you the written answer that you have sent to me regarding my former question on the Republic of Moldova, which belongs to the community of Independent States. I would like to ask you, what is the vision and what are the predictions of the European Commission regarding the future instrument for. Given the fact that we need to support candidate countries, the Republic of Moldova has recently formalized its national accession program after 2027. And given the fact that we are discussing about the new multilateral financial framework. Is it going to benefit only four only of pre-accession instruments, or is it going to benefit from instruments from the Eastern Partnership? I also want to thank you for the invitation that you have extended to us as MEPs to accompany you on your missions, and I would be happy to accompany you on your mission to the Republic of Moldova. Thank you.”
  EU-Moldova relations