On 4 October, Dacian Cioloş MEP (USR PLUS, RO) resigned from the presidency of the Renew Europe Group.

The resignation followed his election last week as President of ALDE Party member party USR PLUS.

In accordance with commitments made during his party presidential campaign, he will dedicate himself to this new role for USR PLUS to grow and become an even stronger liberal political force in Romania.

Cioloş, who has previously served as Prime Minister of Romania and European Commissioner for Agriculture (2009-2014), will remain a Renew Europe MEP and member of the Romanian USR PLUS delegation. Commenting on the resignation from the European Parliament in Strasbourg, he said:

"It was a difficult decision to take but the only one possible. The members of my party gave me a clear mandate to carry out the merger between the two former parties USR and PLUS. It is an exciting task ahead of me. I intend to devote myself to it with all my energy. I would like to thank all my colleagues in Renew Europe Group for having placed their trust in me over the past two years. I have no doubt that my successor will pursue this mission with energy and enthusiasm. The next leader can already count on my full support. Renew Europe is a group that is rich in diversity, a group that is respected and a group that cannot be ignored. I am proud of what we have achieved together."

The modalities and timetable for the election of the next Renew Europe President will be specified soon, in accordance with the statutes of the Renew Europe Group.

Malik Azmani MEP (VVD, NL), 1st Vice-President of Renew Europe, is currently acting as interim President of Renew Europe until a new President is elected.

Photo credit: Eric Vidal, European Parliament 2021.