Victor Negrescu

Minister delegate for European Affairs

In June 2017, Negrescu became the youngest member of the Tudose Cabinet, as a Minister delegate for European affairs, stating that his ministerial mandate has two pillars: national consensus on European matters and ensuring democratic access to information about European matters^[3].

As a Minister Delegate for European Affairs, Victor Negrescu coordinates the preparation^[4] of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union^[5]. In his mandate, the training of over 1,500 civil servants who would work for the Presidency began^[6], the official slogan and the first version of the 2019 Presidency's themes of interest were adopted^[7] and the dialogue with European officials, as well as with Finland and Croatia - the countries that together with Romania are part of the Presidency Trio - was strengthened^[8].

In the context of Brexit, Victor Negrescu was part of the team which defined the strategy of the Romanian Government in the Brexit process^[9]. He met with representatives of the Romanian community in the UK and held consultations with the European Union negotiating team^[10].

During his mandate as Minister Delegate for European Affairs, Romania obtained the presidency of the European Union Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) for the period between 1 November 2018 and 1 November 2019^[11].

Victor Negrescu supports the European integration of the Republic of Moldova and contributed to the intensification of the political and diplomatic cooperation between the two countries^[12]. On June 25, 2018, Victor Negrescu chaired, along with the Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration of the Republic of Moldova, Iurie Leanca, the 5th session of the Intergovernmental Commission Romania-Moldova for European Integration^[13].

Member of the European Parliament (2014-2017)

Between 2014 and 2017, Negrescu was a Member of the European Parliament^[14]. As an MEP, he was a member of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats. In the European Parliament he sat on the Committee on Budgets and also activated in the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and Committee on Legal Affairs. He was a board member of EU40, the network of young Members of the European Parliament^[15], as well as the coordinator of S&D40, the network of the young S&D MEPs in the European Parliament^[16].

During his three-year period as an MEP, Negrescu participated in 94% of the roll-call votes, with 96% of loyalty to his political group, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, and 97% of loyalty to his national party in Romania, the Social Democratic Party. During this period he was also responsible for 16 reports and 9 opinions as shadow rapporteur, and was the author of amendments to 108 reports.^[17]

As a member of the European Parliament, Victor Negrescu sought to promote the Romanian IT sector and IT entrepreneurs, as well as to contribute to the development of the European digital sector. In his view, internet can become a tool to combat social exclusion, promote equal opportunities and social justice^[18]. In 2015, together with EU40, he hosted an exhibition called “Backstage with Europe’s Creators” in the European Parliament^[19].

He initiated several EU-funded pilot projects^[20] worth more than 8 million EUR for the Romanian research industry and for the development of the IT sector, as well as a pilot project which allocates 1 million EUR to enable access to health care in rural areas^[21].

Victor Negrescu won the "MEP of the Year" Award in the Digital Agenda category of the MEP Awards 2015^[22].

One of his main stated goals as an MEP was supporting youth in the EU, through initiatives to combat unemployment, ensure job creation, access to culture and European funds^[23]. His work was focused not only on students, but also on young entrepreneurs and researchers^[24].

Victor Negrescu was one of the MEPs involved in the mobilization of European funds to support^[25] redundant European workers in several countries^[26].

PES activists Romania

In 2017, the network had more than 10.000 members interested in European issues and politics^[27].