Letter to the game changers (Herman van Rompuy, Martin Schulz, Jose Manuel Barroso)

[Author: Codrin Paveliuc Olariu, post on 17 November 2012]

Photo credits: http://www.businessinsider.com/united-nations-supports-ispeak-china-india-adrian-fisk-2011-10

I am an ordinary European citizen who is directly affected by Brussels politics.

I followed last week the news regarding Mr.van Rompuy`s Multi Annual Financial Framework (MFF)proposal and, honestly, I got worried…because all the suggested budget cuts and reallocations affect me directly.

I am 29 years old. Although according to both the EU and UN definitions, I am not young anymore (so discriminatory!!!), I consider myself to still be a young professional. By cutting down the budget allocated to youth programmes and education, you give a hard blow not only to me, but also to an entire generation aged between 15 to 29 that sees its future falling into ruins. Why should we not invest in their future as it is also our future?

I am from Botosani, a city from the North East Development Region of Romania. It is recognized as one of the poorest regions in my country, with the largest development discrepancies that exist in Europe. The Cohesion budget coefficient have been modified in the MFF proposal, being cut from 3.35 to 3.15. This means a decreased budget not only for my region and city, but also for many regions like this all over Europe. Why treat them as second rate citizens of the EU when the “word of the day” should be “Union”?

I am qualified as an agronomist, but at this time work in agricultural research actually. The MFF budget proposal gives the CAP post 2013 a cut of 25.5 billion Euros after the EC already diminished it. Everybody benefits from agriculture: almost 50% of EU people live in the countryside, many are employed there, 100% of our food comes from agriculture. Why should we give a blow to agricultural competitiveness when we should support it?

I am working in agricultural research on global food security. The proposed cuts to foreign aid budget directly affects support to food security measures. Why should we lose the fight against global hunger when the solutions are within our reach?

I am a 29 year old Romanian, working in food security policies research in Belgium, worried about the state of the Union. I have voted for competitiveness and jobs policies, for an increased research budget, but I have never chosen between different political parties.

I strongly believe that political ideologies should not stand in the way of developing a nation or the European Union. Our personal/national egos should not be greater than the needs of the citizens.

Investing in youth, research, education, competitiveness, agriculture should not be affected by the financial crisis, elections in your countries, quarrels between political groups or egos of European institutions getting the first taste of power in the co-decision process.

It is time to stop saying “we should” and say “I will”. Strong commitments for our “common” future are needed.

Note: This post is taken here from official blog with an intention of disseminating the information to a wider audience. Further details can be found in the original source link below. Read more about at http://codrinpo.wordpress.com/2012/11/17/letter-to-the-game-changers/