He noted that "it has taken 60 years for Romania to return to the bosom of Europe" and that the EU is "politically and culturally strengthened" by Bucharest's membership.
Atklājot plenārsesiju, Parlamenta priekšsēdētājs Hanss-Gerts Poterings sveica Rumāniju Eiropas Savienībā, norādot, ka tā pēc 60 gadiem atkal atgriezusies ”Eiropas klēpī”.