Romania's new ly-elected president, Nicusor Dan, said on Monday, at the solemn session of Parliament during which he took the oath of investiture, that the Romanian state needs 'a fundamental change', within the limits of the rule of law.

He urged Romanians to continue to put 'positive' pressure on state institutions to reform. At the same time, Nicusor Dan gave assurances that he will be a president 'open' to the voice of society.

'Thank you for the impressive debate you have had over the last few weeks, regardless of the cause you have supported. Romanians from Romania, Romanians from the diaspora, Romanians from the Republic of Moldova - many people who have never before spoken out on politics have now expressed themselves, showing that you are interested in the direction Romania is going in. Romanian society has shown that it is alive and strong. The Romanian state needs fundamental change, of course within the limits of the rule of law. I invite you to continue to be involved, with all the social strength that you have proven, to put positive pressure on the institutions of the Romanian state, so that they reform. I assure you that I will be a president open to the voice of society and a partner with society,' said Nicusor Dan, in the plenary session of Parliament.

According to him, in the short term, Romania has a budget deficit problem.

'Romania spends too much, the Romanian state spends too much compared to what it can afford and this issue may call into question the financial stability that we have all worked for over the years. It is in Romania's national interest to have a government supported by a parliamentary majority. It is in Romania's national interest that this majority takes on the fiscal reforms Romania needs. It is in Romania's national interest to convey the message of stability to the financial markets. It is in Romania's national interest to send a signal of openness and predictability to the investment environment,' emphasized the head of state.

He called on all political parties to act 'in the national interest'. 'It will not be about the past, it is about Romania's immediate future and it is not about political calculations, it is, I repeat, about the national interest. And I am convinced that Romanians will evaluate accordingly. In the long term, Romania needs a thorough reform,' the president added.

Nicusor Dan stressed that Romania needs to reduce bureaucracy and digitalize, Romania needs to reform the process of access and promotion in the civil service. At the same time, he added, there is a need for an administrative-territorial reform and a reform of the electoral system.

'As far as the economy is concerned, we need to stop the great tax evasion and streamline state spending, ensure professional governance and management at state-owned companies, have a well-defined economic development strategy, to stimulate agro-industrial and processing capacities in order to optimize agricultural production, to finance a coherent irrigation system, to simplify access to European funds and to ensure a favorable framework, most importantly, for investors,' the president stressed.

With regard to the health system, he said that there is a need for digitalization, a balance between primary and ambulatory medicine and the hospital system, a strategy for investment in infrastructure, an expansion of the network of addiction treatment centres and an incentive for professionals who choose to work in rural areas and small towns.

With respect to the field of Education, Nicusor Dan mentioned the need for financial incentives for teaching staff.

'We need to stimulate critical thinking throughout the education system. We need to link education with the labor market. We need to invest in early childhood education, namely in nurseries and kindergartens, and it is essential to prevent school drop-outs,' he said.

As regards the judiciary, the head of state said that prosecutors' offices need to focus on the major areas of corruption in society and, at the same time, to reform the Judicial Inspectorate, a fundamental institution.

'We need to reduce the time it takes to resolve cases through administrative and sometimes legislative measures, we need to redefine the procedures for promoting magistrates and we need to reflect on the Constitutional Court Law,' explained Nicusor Dan.

He also pointed out the need to reform the environmental authorization and control institutions, to expand the activities of the Environmental Guard, to reform Romsilva, to be concerned about urban development that affects the future of localities, and to stimulate efficient waste management.

As far as the cultural area is concerned, the president underlined the need for a national program of access to culture and education through culture, the need to support contemporary culture and dialogue with the administration, to promote contemporary Romanian culture and to enhance the national heritage as a prestigious resource on the international level.

According to the head of state, there is also a need to simplify and streamline the pension system, to reform the social benefits system, to develop social services in communities, to develop a long-term and palliative care system, to remove obstacles, to give women access to the labor market and to combat domestic violence.

In terms of foreign policy, Nicusor Dan reaffirmed the need to strengthen transatlantic relations, the strategic partnership with the USA, Romania's participation in NATO, participation in the dialogue between the European Union and NATO.

According to him, it is necessary, at the same time, to participate in the European autonomous defence architecture, to reduce critical dependencies in terms of energy, technology and supply chains, to strengthen the defence system in the face of hybrid war, to gradually increase the percentage of GDP for defence, in agreement with partners, to actively participate in the decision-making process at the EU level.

'As far as the relationship with the Republic of Moldova is concerned - supporting its European path, consolidating and expanding joint projects in the field of energy and transport infrastructure, creating the Guarantee Fund for Romanian investments in the Republic of Moldova, (...) expanding cultural and academic exchanges and (...) making those institutions that cause difficulties - the Romanian visas and the National Authority for Citizenship - operational. As far as Romanians in the diaspora are concerned, we need to streamline procedures and consular services, create a structure dedicated to those who want to return home and, in particular, to those who want to return to invest in Romania, systematically teach Romanian in Romanian communities for children and ensure a proportional representation in Parliament for Romanians in the diaspora,' the president added. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Catalina Matei; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)