Romania: President criticizes EU strategies and continues to support partnership with the United States

In a speech delivered on Saturday, May 9th, Nicusor Dan stated, “Europe made a mistake by abandoning nuclear energy.” Just days after the Romanian Parliament censured the current government, causing a political crisis unprecedented due to the alliance between the socialists (PSD) and the far-right (AUR), the presidential administration decided to cancel the official reception usually held every year for Europe Day.

Instead, President Nicusor Dan delivered a brief speech emphasizing that “for Romania, these 20 years of EU membership have meant modernization and improved living standards. The average salary has tripled and now reaches 80% of the EU average salary.”

In his speech, Nicusor Dan criticized the simplistic discussions about the European Union and stated that debates on Romania’s European future are often replaced by slogans instead of genuine discussions on the country’s interests within the EU.

The Romanian president then argued that “Europe made a mistake by abandoning nuclear energy and relying on cheap gas from Russia for its energy supply, neglecting its defense industry, and setting overly ambitious environmental goals that have harmed its heavy industry.”

The accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union remains an important goal for Romania, as well as the partnership with the United States. Nicusor Dan expressed the need for “a fair, strong, and equitable partnership between the European Union and the United States.”