A Romanian is among a list of Members of the European Parliament who actually matter.

Politico.eu has selected 40 of the 751 elected MEPs and included them in a list called “The 40 MEPs who actually matter.” Besides well-known names such as Martin Schultz, Marine Le Pen, and Nigel Farage, the list also features Romanian Sorin Moisa.

Moisa, 40, is at his first mandate in the European Parliament. Ranked 31st, he represents the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats and is a member of the Committee on International Trade (INTA).

“The most influential MEP from the second largest Socialist delegation, Romania. Elected after serving as deputy chief of staff to then European commissioner, now Romanian prime minister, Dacian Ciolos. As shadow rapporteur on the troubled EU-Canada trade deal (CETA), Moisa took a stand and resigned from this position in 2016 over Canada’s refusal to grant visa-free travel to Romanians,” writes Politico.eu.

Fourteen of the 28 EU Member States have at least one MEP in Politico’s list. However, only seven out of 40 come from Central and Eastern Europe. Germany has the largest number of MEPs in the list – 16, followed by UK – five, France and Italy – three each, Belgium, Netherlands and Poland – two each, and the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovenia and Sweden – one each.

German Martin Schulz tops the list, followed by French Marine le Pen and Belgian Guy Verhofstadt. Find the entire list here.

Who is the Romanian included in a list of 28 people “shaping, shaking and stirring Europe”?

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Sorin Moisa's website)