June 19 (SeeNews) - Former Romanian prime minister Dacian Ciolos was elected leader of Renew Europe, the new centrist-liberal group in the European Parliament, the group said on Wednesday.
Ciolos was elected in a 64-42 vote, defeating Dutch MEP Sophie in 't Veld, Renew Europe said in a statement.
"I believe in one Europe from East to West and from North to South, an innovative and globally competitive Europe, a Union that protects its citizens, their freedoms and human rights. Our focus will be on how to be closer to our citizens and best address their legitimate expectations," Ciolos was quoted as saying in the statement.
Dacian Ciolos is leader of Romania's opposition PLUS party, which is part of 2020 Alliance together with Union Save Romania (USR).
2020 Alliance came in third in the European Parliament (EP) elections in Romania last month, after opposition National Liberal Party (PNL) and ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD).
Ciolos led a technocratic Romanian government in 2015-2017 and was an European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development between 2010 and 2014.
A successor to the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), Renew Europe was established after last month's European Parliament elections. It is the third-largest political family in the parliament with 108 seats after the conservative European People’s party and the Party of European Socialists.