The anti-Roma manifestations that took place on International Romani day in Romania are not worthy of a European Union Member State, and we cannot allow for these acts of open discrimination to become socially acceptable.

Drug abuse, just like alcoholism is social problem that is treated as a taboo in Hargita County. Even though the phenomenon is not a pervasive social problem in the region, it no doubt has an increasing tendency, concluded the specialists during a discussion organised on the 30^th of March at the County Council. The discussion was preceded by an exhibition on the subject, which can be currently visited in Csíkszereda/Miercurea Ciuc. The exhibition was organised by the Áradat Association and sponsored by EPP MEP Csaba Sógor. 

It would disadvantage the competitiveness of European companies if the bill proposed by the European Commission on the posting of workers is adopted – argue some members of the European Parliament. The proposal would modify the directive in force since 1996.   In the opinion of MEP Csaba Sógor the Equal work for equal pay principle proposed by the Commission would adversely affect not only entrepreneurs who have activities abroad but also Europe's competitiveness in general. This is the reason for which the proposal divides MEPs.

Freedom of speech is one of the fundamental values of democracy; therefore there cannot be taboo or uncomfortable subjects in the European Parliament that we are forbidden to speak of – stated Csaba Sógor in response to last week's incidents late at night on March 7^th during the Strasbourg plenary session.

A vehement protest action preceded a conference hosted in the European Parliament’s building in Brussels by RMDSZ MEP Csaba Sógor on the Turkish minority in Greece. Right before the start of the conference entitled Freedom of association in Greece - a loophole in European minority rights standards MEPs of the Greek far-right tried to disrupt the conference by using violent language and claiming that there is no Turkish minority in Greece - a fact, which according to Csaba Sógor only demonstrates how real the problems of ethnic minorities are in Greece.

The Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between the European Union and Kosovo is to come into force, after the European Parliament voted on the proposal on the 21^st of January. In the opinion of RMDSZ MEP Csaba Sógor the agreement deals with minority protection issues only in general terms, which is not enough as experience shows.

Members of the European Parliament call for an increase in women's entrepreneurial activity. In 2012 only 31 percent of entrepreneurs within the European Union are women – states the EP in its report adopted in Strasbourg, on January 19^th.

The collective stigmatisation of a community will hinder dialogue and discussion on important issues that we have had little of to this day in Romania – stated Csaba Sógor during the December plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Monday evening.

A structured dialogue with Vera Jourová, EU Commissioner of Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality was on the agenda of the December 10^th meeting of the LIBE committee, as well as a public hearing on a monitoring mechanism of the situation of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights in the European Union. 

The international development policy is far from being a humanitarian act, a strong economic development and a higher standard of living is in the best interest of the European citizens as well – pointed out Csaba Sógor on Wednesday at the European Parliament’s debate on the European Year of Development.

It can only benefit a country if it addresses minority issues in a satisfactory manner and guarantees comprehensive minority protection laws – was the conclusion of the panel discussion of MEPs Csaba Sógor and Pál Csáky on the 21^st of November at the 2^nd Visegrad International Youth Conference in Cluj-Napoca.  

Representatives of the civil and professional sector urged for the term wood pastures to be recognised and used in European directives. Experts say wood pastures are a way of using land that has been around for centuries and that they should be included in the rural development programme of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for their ecological, cultural and historical values.