Victor Negrescu backed by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu to be nominated European Commissioner

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is in the process of forming a new commission. So far, 22 countries have put forward candidates for the commissioner posts, including Romania. As far as Romania is concerned, Victor Negrescu is backed by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu to be nominated as commissioner. When it comes to the portfolio Romania could receive, Negrescu says the economy is of interest to Romania because it is a priority for the commission.

Petruta Obrejan has a summary on the subject.

Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu will most likely discuss the future European Commissioner with EC President Ursula von der Leyen today. The Chief Executive said at the end of the Social Democrats' meeting that he will later discuss with his coalition partner, Liberal President Nicolae Ciuca, and, if necessary, with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, adding that there have been informal talks with the two only on the portfolio of European Commissioner and not on any nomination. The Prime Minister's declared objective is for Romania to hold a relevant portfolio in the future European Commission, and this can only be an economic profile, because Ursula von der Leyen's intention is for European policy to focus on investment in the future. It is known that Victor Negrescu has the support of the Social Democrats for the portfolio of future commissioner, as he is currently vice-president of the European Parliament.

Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said: "First of all, you know very well that the Commission has not yet been set up, with its attributions, and we would like to find the best person for certain tasks. At the moment, my personal proposal is Mr. Victor Negrescu. I would like us to be the first country in Europe, in the European Union, to find out the portfolio, but I believe that the President is having discussions with all the prime ministers of the European Union at the moment.

Lucian Romascanu, the spokesman for the Social Democrats, also believes that Victor Negrescu has all the assets to be a very good European Commissioner, being, first and foremost, a politician: From what I know so far, there is a discussion about the portfolio, we are waiting very shortly to see what portfolio, probably in the economic area. Victor Negrescu is a politician, everyone is saying: "Sir, but he's not good at tightening screws to become commissioner on I don't know what". Victor Negrescu is one of the best politicians in international relations that the Social Democratic Party has, he is vice-president of the European Parliament and he has all the tools to be a very good commissioner.

Translated by: Radu Matei