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Angela Cristea: Romanians often forget about the "extraordinary" contribution their country brings EU
Head of the European Commission Representation in Romania Angela Cristea said on Wednesday, amidst events occasioned by the launch of online citizens' consultations on the future of Europe, that Romanians often forget about the "extraordinary" contribution their country brings the European Union.
"It is a day that we can remember, in case we forgot that we are not only Romanians, but also Europeans, that our country is not only Romania but also Europe and that we have rights and obligations, not only as Romanians, but also as Europeans. This year is a special one, because it is also the year of the Centennial [of Romania's December 1, 1918 Greater Union], and that is why we are saying: Long live, Europe! Long live Romania!' It is also the European Year of Cultural Heritage, and I am glad that we are able to discover increasingly more of this common heritage that we share, especially Romania's contribution to the European Union. We are taught, when we talk about Europe, to talk about money, about what Europe is giving us, about how we want more from Europe and forget about how much Romania brings to Europe. As a representative of the European Commission, on behalf of Europe, I want to thank everyone and thank Romania and the Romanians for their extraordinary contribution to Europe," she said.
Cristea also highlighted the importance of cohesion within the EU to reduce those gaps that, from time to time, make Romanians feel "second-class citizens."