| Nicolae Ștefănuță | |
| Party: | Independent (since 2023)[1] |
| Otherparty: | USR PLUS (2019–2023) Democratic Liberal Party (2007–?)[2] Democratic Party (until 2007) |
| Constituency Mp: | Romania |
| Term Start: | 2 July 2019 |
| Parliament: | European |
| Birth Place: | Rășinari, Romania |
| Nationality: | Romanian |
| Alma Mater: | Georgetown University(MPP) Diplomatic Academy of Vienna(MA) University of Vienna(MA) West University of Timișoara(BEcon) |
| Profession: | Politician |
Nicolae Ștefănuță or Nicu Ștefănuță (born 3 January 1982) is a progressive[3] Romanian politician who has been serving as a Member of the European Parliament since 2019.[4]
In 2007, Nicolae Ștefănuță was a member of the Democratic Party and assistant to Monica Iacob Ridzi. He was appointed to head the new department of European politics and affairs.
As a member of USR PLUS, Ștefănuță was elected as MEP in 2019. In parliament, he serves on the Committee on Budgets and on the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety. In 2020, he also joined the Special Committee on Beating Cancer.[5] Ștefănuță has been serving as the parliament’s lead rapporteur on the budget of the European Union for 2023.[6]
In addition to his committee assignments, Ștefănuță is part of the parliament's delegation for relations with the United States. He co-chairs the informal MEP Interest Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).[7] He is also a member of the European Parliament Intergroup on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development,[8] the European Parliament Intergroup on LGBT Rights,[9] the European Parliament Intergroup on Children’s Rights[10] and the European Parliament Intergroup on Traditional Minorities, National Communities and Languages.[11]
In March 2023, Ștefănuță left the Save Romania Union party and the Renew Europe parliamentary group for the Greens–European Free Alliance as an independent MEP.[12]
After the 2024 European elections, Ștefănuță has become the fourth independent in Romanian history to get a mandate. He got 3.04% which is above the 3% needed to get in as an independent.[13]
In 2021, Ștefănuță joined seven other Romanian MEPs in co-signing a letter to Ursula von der Leyen and Maroš Šefčovič in which they call on the European Commission to stop the United Kingdom from holding EU nationals in immigration removal centers.[14]
Nicu Ștefănuță is a strong supporter of Palestine. He participated in a pro-Palestinian rally in Bucharest on 19 May 2024.[15] After, on June 20, 2024, the management of the University of Bucharest called the gendarmes to evacuate the pro-Palestine protesters occupying the its territory, Ștefănuță compared this event with the invitation of miners by President Ion Iliescu in 1990, which resulted in the infamous June 1990 Mineriad.[16]
Ștefănuță attended the 2024 Bucharest Pride.[17]
Ștefănuță's father, also named Nicolae, led the Sibiu branch of the Veterinary and Food Safety Directorate (DSV) for years. He continues to work at that institution, currently as a senior advisor. Ștefănuță senior was prosecuted for a prejudice of 500 000 RON.[18] [19]
His mother, Paraschiva Ștefănuță, was the coordinating director within the County Office for Agricultural Consultation in Sibiu.[2]
Nicu Ștefănuță is married to American Carolyn Blake, Senior Manager of Research and International Policy at the US Chamber of Commerce.[2]