Corina Crețu has considerable experience in both Romanian and European Union politics. While a member of the Social Democrat Party (PSD), she was an MP, MEP and European Commissioner for Regional Policy. In 2019, she moved to the relatively new PRO Romania party and got re-elected for the position of MEP. PRO Romania is a political offshoot of the Social Democrat Party, many of its members being former Social-Democrats, alienated by the leadership of the PSD between 2017 and 2019. Much like the Social Democrat Party, PRO Romania is an economically liberal, socially conservative pro-European with a pinch of political opportunism. The party balances between vocal pro-Western rhetoric, such as when it justified its departure from the Social-Democrat Party, and openings to China and other non-democratic powers when that seems to present economic or political benefits.
In many of her positions, she has presented herself as a strong believer in the European project, stating that all political forces should promote Romania’s place in the EU regardless of political colour. Crețu frequently posts about the concrete benefits that EU funds and programmes bring, also stating that the European integration of the Republic of Moldova represents the country’s best chance to achieve prosperity and a robust democracy.
The majority of her declarations during her latest term as an MEP are on budgets and funding programmes. During her term as European Commissioner, she has expressed divergent views from the ones of most Romanian Social-Democrats, supporting the rule of law conditionalities on European funds allocations and the establishment of the position of Chief EU Prosecutor. She quit PSD when compliance with party requests would have compromised her European career.
(Updated: 13/7/2021)
