Radio România Internațional

Tag: Brussels

  • March 28, 2016 UPDATE

    March 28, 2016 UPDATE

    Brussels — The independent journalist Faycal Cheffou, the only person arrested and charged with involvement in the Brussels attacks, was released on Monday for lack of evidence. The man was initially suspected of being the mystery third man seen in a footage of the bombers. What’s sure is that the three suicide bombers at the Brussels metro station and airport were also involved in November’s attacks in Paris. The Islamic State (IS) militant group claimed the attacks in both countries.




    MESSAGE – Romanias head of state Klaus Iohannis sent his condolences to the Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain, following Sunday’s terrorist attack in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, which left more than 70 people dead and hundreds wounded. Iohannis voiced the Romanian people’s compassion and solidarity with the Pakistani people and the victims’ families. Romania’s Foreign Ministry reiterated the country’s firm commitment to fighting terrorism and the need to strengthen international efforts to curb all its forms. The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, also condemned the suicide bombing, which he described as an “appalling act of terrorism.” The attacks were perpetrated in a park where Catholic Christians were celebrating Easter. A Pakistani Taliban splinter group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it had targeted Christians. A mostly Muslim country, Pakistan has a roughly 2-million strong Christian community, accounting for some 1% of the total population.




    SRI – The Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) cannot offer any information, for the time being, regarding the use of Romanian prepaid phone cards by the terrorists who commited attacks in Europe. The SRI has said, however, that it has information according to which such cards are being used in conflict areas such as Syria and Egypt. As the identity of the people using these cards cannot be established, there is a chance that they belong to Romanian citizens living in Syria or in other conflict areas but also to people in conncetion with terrorist activities, the SRI announced. The statements come after Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos said in a TV show that prepaid phone cards from Romania have been used in preparation for the attacks in EU member countries. Ciolos pleaded for a more thorough control of the prepaid phone cards sold, which in Romania can be purchased without checking the buyer’s identity




    ANTI-CORRUPTION — The Higher Council of Magistrates on Monday approved the nomination of Laura Codruta Kovesi for a new term in office as head of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate. She said that over the past three years, during her term, the number of indictments had increased by 50%, and the number of dignitaries indicted in corruption cases had risen 6 times. She added that the investigation of high-level corruption and recovering the losses incurred by the State remained her main priorities. Also on Monday, Justice Minister Raluca Prună said the decision to nominate Kovesi was based on the remarkable performance of the institution under her leadership. The chief prosecutor of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate is nominated by the justice minister, approved by the Higher Council of Magistrates and appointed to office by the president, for a three-year term. The Directorate has been constantly praised in the reports issued under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism, an instrument used by the European Commission to monitor the Romanian judiciary.




    FOOTBALL — Romania’s football team ended the match against defending champions Spain in a goalless draw. The game, played on home turf in Cluj, was part of the training stage for this summer’s European Championship in France. On Wednesday Romania had defeated Lithuania, also at home, 1-nill. In Euro 2016, the Romanian team will play the opening game of June 10th against France, in a group that also includes Switzerland and Albania. Romania last took part in a continental final tournament in 2008, when it left the competition in the group stage.



    (Translated by Elena Enache)

  • Unanimous condemnation of the Brussels attacks

    Unanimous condemnation of the Brussels attacks

    In the wake of the terrorist attacks in Brussels, we felt the Romanians by our side, the Belgian ambassador to Bucharest, Thomas Baekelandt has said. And it was not only the Romanian officials who expressed their compassion and support, but the Romanians in general! Thursday was a day of national mourning in Romania, in token of solidarity with all those who lost their relatives or friends. Just like in many other cities, the Romanian Government’s headquarters was lit up with the Belgian flag colours, black, yellow and red, in solidarity with Brussels.



    Politicians and prominent figures of the Romanian society, foreign ambassadors accredited to Bucharest, as well as ordinary citizens, came to Belgium’s Embassy in Romania’s capital city to write a message in the book of condolences, pay floral tributes or light candles, in solidarity with the Belgian people, severely hit by Tuesday’s attacks. The first to sign the book of condolences was the French ambassador to Bucharest, François Saint-Paul, whose country was severely hit two times last year: in January, the terror attacks at Charlie Hebdo offices in Paris and in November, when a string of Jihadist attacks took 130 lives.



    Other heads of diplomatic missions who signed the book of condolences opened at the Belgian Embassy in Bucharest included the ambassadors of Germany, Spain, Japan, Greece, Bosnia, Serbia, Cyprus, Poland, Turkey and Cuba. Romania’s President, Klaus Iohannis, upon returning from a state visit to Turkey, urged people to show solidarity and courage:



    Klaus Iohannis: “I am confident that we can combat this scourge of attacks, only if all countries work closely together. The words which come to my mind when I’m thinking about what should be done are solidarity, calm, unity.”



    In his turn, the Prime Minister, Dacian Ciolos, has launched an appeal for solidarity in the fight against terrorism:


    Dacian Ciolos: “I firmly believe that only by boosting cooperation among us, the EU member states, we can we further preserve the freedom area we have within the Union, and which is worst tried. At present, each member state has the tendency to be in retreat, with the aim of protecting itself.”



    The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Valeriu Zgonea, stood for tightening security:


    “Freedoms are extremely important. But in order to have liberties, you should first ensure people’s welfare, well-being and security. Security is extremely important to us, at home and in the street.”



    Religions, dialogue and peace, are the terms of a theoretical equation, which however turns out to be far from reality, because bombs are detonated in the name of religion and the situation degenerates into major conflicts. Muslim and Christian religious leaders on Thursday attended a forum organised by the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Bucharest, reiterating that extremism and fanaticism emerge out of a lack of education and as a result of manipulation. And, they agreed that dialogue should be the religious authorities’ response to Islamic radicalism, as dialogue can promote and herald a culture of peace and tolerance.


    (Translated by D. Vijeu)

  • March 23, 2016 UPDATE

    March 23, 2016 UPDATE

    MOURNING – Belgium observes three days of national mourning. One minute of silence was kept in downtown Brussels on Wednesday, in the wake of Tuesdays attacks which left over 30 people dead and some 270 injured. The IS Jihadist group claimed responsibility for the suicide attacks that have been firmly condemned by the international community. The perpetrators have reportedly been previously involved in the Paris attacks in November, which claimed 130 lives and which were coordinated by the French Salah Abdeslam, who was arrested in Brussels on Friday. Experts and officials see the recent attacks as proof that the Jihadist networks in Belgium and other European countries are still able to organise large-scale operations, in spite of the pressure coming from security and police forces. The Dutch Justice Minister, Ard van der Steur, has announced an emergency meeting of the EU ministers will be held on Thursday in Brussels, at the request of Belgium. The anti-terrorist alert across that country remains at maximum levels, and the Brussels airport will still be closed on Thursday, while security around the EU institutions and Belgian nuclear power plants was stepped up.



    SOLIDARITY – The Romanian Government decided that Thursday, March 24, be declared day of national mourning, in memory of the victims of the Brussels attacks. The Romanian Foreign Ministry has announced that four Romanian citizens were wounded in the Brussels attacks. A mobile unit of the Romanian Embassy in Belgium travelled to the hospitals in Brussels to provide consular assistance. Another diplomatic team was deployed to Brussels to give additional support to the Romanian citizens in that country. In Romania, the terrorist alert remains at the so-called level “Blue (Guarded), but security around diplomatic missions and airports has been strengthened.



    DEFENCE – The Romanian Defence Minister, Mihnea Motoc, pays an official visit to France until Thursday, at the invitation of his French counterpart Jean-Yves le Drian. According to the Romanian Ministry, the two officials will discuss the recent regional and international security developments and ways to boost bilateral cooperation as well as cooperation between the two countries within the EU and NATO, and will exchange information on key European security and defence policy aspects. The agenda of talks will also include the preparations for the Summit due in Warsaw this July. The Romanian Defence Minister will also make fact-finding visits to a number of military sites.



    COOPERATION – The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, said on Wednesday in Ankara that the EU is currently facing a series of challenges, in the context in which Turkey is an important partner. The Romanian President said that Turkey is hosting a very large number of refugees, plays a key role in solving the migrant crisis, both in terms of humanitarian assistance, the control of the migration flow and the fight against human trafficking networks. The statements were made fresh from the talks he had with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Regional security and bilateral economic cooperation were also high on the agenda of the talks. In an interview with the Turkish news agency Anadolu, ahead of the meeting, President Iohannis reiterated Romanias support for Turkeys EU accession. He deplored again Russias interference in Ukraine and Syria and expressed hope that at the NATO summit due in Warsaw in July, measures will be taken to boost security in the Black Sea Area. The visit by Romanias president to Turkey comes to an end on Thursday.



    CORRUPTION– Romania loses an annual 15% of its GDP because of corruption, reads a survey commissioned by the European Parliament. According to the report, the figure includes both direct losses, e.g. rigged public procurement bids, and indirect losses, in that other companies are no longer interested in such procedures and competition is therefore distorted. Apart from Romania, the black list of EU corruption also includes Bulgaria, Croatia and Latvia. The survey indicates that the price of corruption at EU level ranges between 179 billion to 990 billion euros per year. The document recommends the extension of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism, which Romania would like to see lifted as soon as possible, or the establishment of an EU-level online public procurement system that may reduce the annual losses caused by corruption by some 900 million euros. Another 200 million euros could be saved through the establishment of a European Public Prosecutors Office, the report also says.



    DETENTION – The mayor of Bucharest‘s District 2, Neculai Ontanu, was taken into custody on Wednesday evening by the prosecutors of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, in a file in which he is accused of bribe taking. On Thursday, he will be taken to the Court of Appeal in Bucharest, the prosecutors calling for 30-day preventive arrest, pending trial. According to the prosecutors, in 2006 and 2007, Ontanu reportedly received a plot of land in Bucharest, as bribe. This is Ontanus fourth term in office as district mayor, and is the interim president of the National Union for the Progress of Romania.


    (Translated by Ana-Maria Popescu and Diana Vijeu)

  • March 22, 2016

    March 22, 2016

    EXPLOSIONS – Several explosions have struck Brussels today. Two blasts tore through the departures area of Zaventem airport while another one hit Maalbeek metro station, close to the EU institutions. The provisional death toll made public by Belgian authorities is 26. Over 130 people have been wounded, of whom some are in a serious condition. The government raised the anti-terror alert in the country to the highest level. The attacks come four days after Salah Abdeslam, the main fugitive in the Paris attacks last November that killed 130 people, was captured in Brussels. Several European states have increased security measures following the events in Brussels. In Bucharest, the Presidency, Government and Foreign Ministry have conveyed a message of condolences to the Belgian people and have condemned the attacks, calling for joint efforts to fight terrorism.




    VOTE – The Romanian Parliament is today voting on the new Board of the public television TVR. Previously, Parliament’s culture committees have interviewed candidates proposed by parliamentary groups, government, presidency and TVR employees. The new Board has to come up with solutions to rescue the public television that has been dealing with severe financial problems. One of these solutions might be to change the insolvency law so that TVR can be declared bankrupt and a new structure be set up.




    VISIT – The US President Barack Obama ends his historic visit to Cuba today with meetings with Cuban dissidents and a televised speech. On Monday, Obama and his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro said they planned to cooperate in fields of common interest. Obama also said that lifting the trade embargo would depend on actions Cuba takes on human rights.




    PRESIDENCY – Romanian President Klaus Iohannis is paying a three-day official visit to Turkey as of today, to hold talks with his counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with PM Ahmet Davutoglu and with representatives of the Romanian community in this country. The visit is aimed at strengthening bilateral ties based on the Strategic Partnership between Romania and Turkey, signed in 2011. Official talks will focus on bilateral, regional and security issues, such as economic cooperation, the dialogue between Turkey and the EU with an emphasis on migration and also the collaboration within NATO. Also approached will be the need to increase efforts to fight terrorism against the background of several terror attacks that have taken place in Turkey recently.




    CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES – The Speaker of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Laura Boldrini, is currently in Bucharest for talks with Romanian high officials. Boldrini’s visit takes place at the invitation of her Romanian counterpart, Valeriu Zgonea. The two officials will sign a declaration dubbed More European Integration: The Road to Travel” , calling for more European integration. The document was signed by the presidents of the Lower Chambers of the Parliament of Italy (Laura Boldrini), France (Claude Bartolone), Germany (Norbert Lammert) and Luxembourg (Mars di Bartolomeo). Laura Boldrini will also have a meeting with representatives of the Italian investors in Romania.




    STRIKE — Thousands of Romanian doctors continue to be in a work-to-rule strike, unsatisfied with the outcome of the negotiations with the Health Ministry. The strike started on Monday, at the initiative of the Romanian Federation of Physician Unions and the “Hipocrat” Union Federation in Romania, which claims to represent over 7,000 employees in the sector. Their demands concern a consistent salary system, the payment of bonuses, and the implementation of working hour standards. Family doctores have announced new protests on Thursday at the Health Ministry headquarters.



    (Translated by E. Enache)


  • Stringent European issues

    Stringent European issues

    European leaders met in Brussels at the weekend to discuss Britain’s future in the European Union. After marathon talks, Britain struck a deal that allows it to introduce a four-year ban on social benefits for community immigrants and to exempt the City of London from European rules and regulations on banks and capital markets.



    British Prime Minister David Cameron set the date for the EU membership referendum for the 23rd of June and said he would campaign for Britain to stay in the European Union. The country is, however, divided over Britain’s future in the EU, and so is his cabinet. Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis, who attended the crucial EU summit at the weekend, said Romania stood against discrimination and that the solution to London’s demands should fully comply with the provisions and principles laid down in the European Union treaties.



    Trying to allay some of the fears over the status and rights of the Romanians working in Britain, president Iohannis said those already working in Britain would not be affected by the agreement signed in Brussels. Klaus Iohannis:


    “The Romanian citizens already working in Great Britain will not be affected by this measure. This only applies to workers entering the British job market after the application of the agreement, who will, however, be able to recover access to these benefits gradually, over the course of four years.”



    (Translated by Cristina Mateescu)


  • February 19, 2016

    February 19, 2016

    The Romanian PM, Dacian Cioloş and the healthcare minister, Patriciu Achimaş Cadariu are today visiting the county of Arges, in the south, where several cases of serious digestive problems have been reported among children. On Thursday two foreign experts came to Romania in an attempt to try to identify the source of the bacteria that caused the digestive problems in children. 3 of the children continue to be in a serious state, having been diagnosed with the hemolytic-uremic syndrome. We recall that 3 children died in February due to serious digestive infections that were followed by other major complications.



    — In Brussels continues the crucial summit where an agreement with Great Britain is expected to be reached in order to avoid the latter’s exit from the EU. After the talks started on Thursday with the 28 EU leaders, the first declarations confirm big differences of opinion. The president of the European Commission, Donald Tusk, believes that no significant progress has been registered and that there is a lot more to be done. The Italian PM Matteo Renzi said Friday that he was less optimistic than at the beginning of the summit and that “steps back” were taken on the first day, Reuters reports. However, the German chancellor Angela Merkel said there was a will for avoiding the Brexit. Romania is represented at the summit by the President Klaus Iohannis who said that Romania promoted the observance of treaties and wanted the Romanian citizens not to be discriminated. The British PM David Cameron wants key changes such as European integration, the functioning of the euro zone, competitiveness and social benefits. Many states announced during the talks that they were not willing to give up their convictions which underlie the EU, namely that the member states should cooperate on a permanent basis and the European treaties should be observed.



    In 2016 Romanians mark 140 years since the birth of the great sculptor Constantin Brâncuşi. 19 February has been proclaimed national celebration day and the national Program “140 years since the birth of the great sculptor Constantin Brâncuşi” has been launched on the occasion. The program is being run by the Romanian Cultural Institute in partnership with the “Constantin Brâncuşi” Center for Research, Documentation and Promotion. On Brâncuşi Day, various events have been scheduled across Romania as well as at the Romanian Cultural Institute centers from abroad.



    Romania attracted 1.25 billion euros from the external capital markets, by reopening the two installments of euro bonds issued in October 2015, at historical cost lows, the Public Finance Ministry officials announced on Friday. Of the total sum lent, 750 million euros will reach maturity in 10 years’ time while 500 million euros will reach maturity in 20 years’ time. According to Finance Minister, Anca Dragu, the transaction reconfirms the very good perception of and the confidence of investors in the Romanian economy in the context of a volatile market.



    Romania’s vice champion women’s handball team, HCM Baia Mare, is taking on Friday, on home ground, the German team Thuringer HC, in the main Group 1 of the Champions League. HCM Baia Mare is ranked 4th in the classification after Rostov on Don, FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria and Larvik, and stands good chances to qualify in the quarterfinals. In the same competition, but in the 2nd main Group, the champions CSM Bucharest will take on, Sunday, in an away match, the Danish team FC Midtjylland. Ranking first in this group is the en titre champion Buducnost Podgorica, followed by Gyori Audi ETO KC, RK Vardar Skopje and CSM Bucharest. (news translated by Lacramioara Simion)

  • February 9, 2016 UPDATE

    February 9, 2016 UPDATE

    The Romanian Defence Minister, Mihnea Motoc, is taking part in Brussels in a meeting of NATO defence ministers on Wednesday and Thursday. The agenda focuses on the Alliances adjustment to the new security context, in view of preparing the decisions to be adopted by the heads of state and government in the forthcoming summit in Warsaw. The defence ministers will also talk about the implementation of the Action Plan to increase the operational capacity of NATO, to fight hybrid and cyber threats, to streamline the Allied missile defence system, the commitment in Afghanistan and ensure the necessary budget resources. During the meeting, Mihnea Motoc will have bilateral consultations with General Philip M. Breedlove, Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, and with the defence ministers of several NATO countries.




    Romanias womens tennis team will be facing Germany in the playoffs for the Fed Cup World Group on February 16 and 17, at home, according to Tuesdays draw in London. Germany has ten players in the WTA top 100, whereas Romania only has four: Simona Halep (3), Irina Begu (34), Monica Niculescu (37), and Alexandra Dulgheru (54). In the Fed Cup quarter-finals, Romania was defeated by the trophy holder Czech Republic, late last week in the Romanian city of Cluj, 3-2, while Germany lost to the Switzerland in Leipzig. Germany is 4th in the Fed Cup ranking made public on Monday, with Romania on the 9th place. The two teams only met once before in this competition, in 1975, when West Germany defeated Romania 3-0, in Naples, in the World Cup quarter-finals.


    (translation by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • December 17, 2015 UPDATE

    December 17, 2015 UPDATE

    The western city of Timisoara was in mourning on Thursday, commemorating the victims of the 1989 anti-communist revolt. 90 people lost their lives and almost 400 were injured during the popular uprising 26 years ago. A special mass was held at the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the Opera hosted the opening of a contemporary art exhibition. Timisoara is the city that sparked the revolution, which then rapidly spread all over the country, eventually toppling the Ceausescu regime on 22 December. Between December 16 and 22, over a thousand people lost their lives, and almost 3,400 were wounded. Romania is the only country of the former Soviet bloc where the regime change was accompanied by a bloodshed, and the deposed communist leaders were executed. The Romanian Parliament meets on 21 December in solemn session to mark the 26th anniversary of this momentous event.



    The immigration crisis, securing the EU’s external borders, fighting terrorism as well as the British proposal to reform the EU are the main topics under discussion at the European Council summit under way in Brussels. According to a communiqué of the Romanian government, Romania supports the application of measures meant to secure the EU’s external borders in order to guarantee internal security while maintaining the principle of the free movement of people within the community space. Romania is represented at the winter European Council meeting by PM Dacian Cioloş.



    Thousands of Romanian transporters protested on Thursday in Bucharest against the rise in the price of the compulsory civil liability insurance policy. A delegation of the protesters talked with the government representatives who said they would work out solutions to reduce the price of these insurance policies. In a communiqué, the insurance companies’ representatives explained that the rise in the price of the insurance policy is due to the fact that, as regards external transportation, the level of damages is much higher and in some countries unlimited. Also the level of damages for bodily injuries and moral prejudice in Romania is unpredictable, the Romanian courts’ practice lacking consistency. Transporters are also discontent with the maintenance of the fuel extra excise duty after January 1st 2016 and of the obligation of transport operators to pay excessive amounts of money for royalties. Thousands of buses, coaches, cabs and commercial trucks gathered in front of the Government building in Bucharest.



    Romania’s national women’s handball team has qualified to the semi-finals of the World Championships in Denmark. In the dramatic game on Wednesday night, the Romanians defeated the Danes 31-30, after extra time. The victory goal was scored in the very last second of the game. On Friday, in the semi-finals, Romania plays against Norway, while the Netherlands contend with Poland. The latter two are veritable surprises, just like Romania’s presence is, considering that in the group stage it got defeated by Spain, Norway and Russia.



    The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis is the most trusted political figure in Romania, according to a poll published on Thursday. According to the barometer, almost 60% of the people polled said they have high or very high confidence in the president. 40% trust the Governor of the National Bank, Mugur Isarescu, and 32.6% trust the prime minister. The poll was run between November 26 and December 2. The sample was 1,071 people.



    International markets have had a positive reaction to the US Federal Reserve decision to raise the reference interest rate, for the first time after 2006, even though the figure was quite small, 0.25%. This indicates that the US economy has finally overcome the effects of the world financial crisis. The hike was followed by a similar one in Hong Kong, where the currency is linked to the US dollar. Next year, new interest rate hikes are expected, resulting in pressure on emerging markets and national currencies in countries from India to Indonesia, according to the BBC. While some states, such as Japan, could benefit from a weaker national currency, which makes exports cheaper, other states, such as Australia, could have problems, since the price of their consumer goods is already low. Also, in some developing countries, businesses could face more expensive loans, the BBC informs.

  • November 26, 2015 UPDATE

    November 26, 2015 UPDATE

    Călin Popescu Tăriceanu, the acting president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) and speaker of the Romanian Senate, on Thursday gave a speech before the organization members in which he said that the strategic binder of their cooperation should remain the Black Sea. Tăriceanu said that, given the current geopolitical and economic context, one should not underestimate the region’s advantages, namely an area measuring 20 million sq. m., a population of more than 350 million inhabitants and its geo-strategic importance. The statement was made in the opening of the 46th meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation. The event brings to Bucharest, until Friday, 76 MPs, representing 12 states in the Black Sea region.




    Moscow will take economic, diplomatic and military measures against Ankara, in retaliation for the downing of a Russian warplane by Turkey, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev announced on Thursday. Turkey said the downed jet had encroached on Turkish air space and was warned repeatedly to change course, while Russian officials said the plane was at no time over Turkey. The crew ejected and one pilot was reportedly shot dead by rebels as he parachuted to the ground. According to Russian media, the surviving pilot said that they did not fly over Turkish air space, and that there were no visual or radio warnings from Turkey. The downing of the jet was one of the most serious publicly acknowledged clashes between a NATO member and Russia for half a century.




    The Romanian Minister of European Funds, Aura Raducu, said on Thursday she wanted Romania’s EU funds absorbtion rate to exceed 70% for the 2007-2013 financial framework. Raducu said that out of the 15 thousand contracts and projects financed from these funds some 55 hundread should be completed by year-end. According to Minister Aura Raducu, 28 billion euros were yearmarked for Romania under the 2007-2013 financial framework.




    The leadership of the Bucharest-Ilfov Inspectorate for Emergency Situations was suspended Wednesday following an internal investigation that revealed that the institution knew about the activities taking place in the Colectiv Bucharest-based club, but did not make any verifications. Also on Wednesday, the General Prosecutor’s Office announced that prosecutors changed the legal qualification in the case of the Colectiv club owners from bodily harm to manslaughter. 60 people have died following the fire of October 30th in the Colectiv nightclub in Bucharest. 37 people injured are still in Bucharest hospitals and another 29 in hospitals aboard.




    Romanian President Klaus Iohannis discussed on Thursday with ambassadors of the EU countries in Bucharest, about Romania’s role within the EU, ways to stop migration and the terrorist attacks in Paris. Iohannis said the European states must work together with the transit countries and the countries of origins in order to stop the refugee wave.




    The Moldovan politicians, who have been trying for several weeks to set up a new parliamentary majority, on Wednesday, were urged by Brussels officials to start negotiations unconditionally and reset the governing alliance that should set the priorities for the future government. The priorities should focus on real pro-European reforms. The talks of the Moldovan President, Nicolae Timofti, with parliamentary groups, meant to designate a candidate for the prime minister position, were postponed for Friday. The former executive led by the Liberal Democrat Valeriu Streleţ was dismissed at the end of October through a no-confidence motion tabled by the Socialist and Communist opposition backed by the Democrats, which led to the dismantling of the so-called pro-European alliance made up of the Liberal Party, the Liberal Democratic Party and the Democratic Party. The Constitutional Court decided that the Moldovan Parliament should be dissolved unless it manages to validate a new government by the end of January 2016.



    (Translated by: E. Enache)



  • 23 November, 2015

    23 November, 2015

    The government in Bucharest meets today to debate the budget for next year. PM Dacian Ciolos said that he would like the budget to pass in Parliament in the first half of December. Until then, however, the new ministers have to analyze the projects left pending by the former cabinet, deciding which to integrate in the new bill. The executive also wants to propose new projects reflecting the new platform, among them a rapid reaction plan issued by a joint institutional group. This group would be coordinated by deputy PM Costin Borc, and has to find solutions to boost confidence in the Romanian economy.



    Belgium is on its third day of the highest level of terror alert, level 4, imminent risk of attack, in Brussels and its surroundings. The metro train and most public transportation are not in operation, while railway stations and airports are guarded by heavily armed police and army units. The streets are patrolled by military vehicles, and public venues like cinemas, shops, restaurants and cafes are still closed. The Belgian authorities have announced they arrested 16 people on Sunday to Monday, at the top of a wide ranging anti-terror operation. Among the people detained is Salah Abdeslam, a key suspect in the Paris attacks of November 13th.



    French President Francois Hollande and British PM David Cameron met in Paris today, promising to intensify their countries fight against the so-called Islamic State, ten days after the terror attacks that left 130 dead in the capital of France. Hollande said that his countrys aim in Syria and Iraq was to cause the highest amount of damage possible to the terror group, confirming that France would step up its air raids against extremists. Cameron said he was firmly in favor of French action being taken, and said that the British air forces have to also launch strikes against IS. He added that he opened a British airbase in Cyprus to French forces. The PM is scheduled to deliver to Parliament a comprehensive strategy for fighting IS.



    Today in Bucharest Romania and the United States hold the fourth meeting of the task force for implementing the common statement on the 21st century Strategic Partnership between Romania and the United States. According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, the two countries are reviewing bilateral cooperation, discussing the aims and cooperation priorities for the upcoming period.



    The Romanian- Dutch tennis pair Horia Tecau and Jean-Julien Rojer have emerged victorious in the last major international tournament of the year. On Sunday, the two have defeated in two sets the Romanian-Indian pair Florin Mergea and Rohan Bopanna. This is the first time when Romania has two players in this competition, with seven million dollars in prize money, which featured the top eight players of 2015, as well as the eight best male double teams.



    The former mayor of Bucharest, Sorin Oprescu, goes on trial today for bribe taking, money laundering and abuse of office. The Anti-Corruption Directorate alleges that between 2013 and 2015 he joined a local administration ring that rigged public acquisition procedures in favor of companies providing bribes and kickbacks. The former official was detained in early September, and has been under house arrest since release. Over the last few months, several officials from Bucharest City Hall have been jailed for corruption. Sorin Oprescu, a former member of the former ruling Social Democratic Party became mayor in 2008, and was re-elected as an independent in 2012.



    Translated by Călin Coţoiu

  • November 21, 2015 UPDATE

    November 21, 2015 UPDATE

    The new Government of Romania, headed by the independent Dacian Cioloş convened on Saturday in an informal meeting. The talks focused on next year’s public budgets, the sector priorities for the coming months, the improvement of the institutions that manage the European fund absorption and on outlining the principles for an administrative reform. According to the PM, such informal meetings will be held on a regular basis, at the weekend, and will focus on the priorities in the governing programme. The technocratic cabinet headed by Dacian Ciolos was sworn in early this week.



    As many as 150 book launches and cultural events were organised on Saturday as part of the Gaudeamus International Book Fair, organised by Radio Romania. The fair ends on Sunday. This year’s edition is held under the motto “The Most Read Book Fair from the Most Listened to Radio.” Gaudeamus brings together over 300 publishers and 700 events. The guest of honour in this year’s fair is the Group of Francophone Embassies, Delegations and Institutions in Romania.



    The Brussels metro remains shut until Sunday after the Belgian authorities raised the terrorist alert status to the highest level, warning people to avoid crowds because of a “serious and imminent” threat, news agencies report. One week after the Paris attacks, perpetrated by ISIS members, and with one of the suspects, based in Brussels, still at large, the city was placed on the top level, 4, of the government’s threat scale. Meanwhile, Turkey announced having arrested a Moroccan-born Belgian citizen suspected of having searched for targets for ISIS in the attacks in the French capital city.



    The US Secretary of State John Kerry is traveling to the Middle East on Sunday, Washington announced. During the three-day tour, Kerry will have meetings in Abu Dhabi (the United Arab Emirates), Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and in Ramallah, West Bank. Talks will focus on the situation in Syria, particularly on the fight against the terrorist group ISIS, and on the recent Israeli-Palestinian violence. According to AFP, after the attacks in Paris the US is trying to strengthen the international coalition against the Islamic State.

  • November 20, 2015 UPDATE

    November 20, 2015 UPDATE

    Three weeks after the horrific fire at Bucharest’s Colectiv club the death toll reached 58, after another patient died in a German hospital on Friday. The Romanian Health Ministry announced that 44 people are still in Bucharest hospitals, 11 of whom are in a critical and serius condition. Around 29 people are being treated in hospitals abroad. On October 30 a fire broke out during a concert at the Colectiv club in Romania’s capital city, as fireworks set insulation foam ablaze, triggering a stampede towards the single exit and trapping many inside.



    The Romanian authorities in charge of managing the European funds need stability in the coming months in order to end in better conditions the scheduling of the community budget for 2007 — 2014. The statement was made Friday in Bucharest by the European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Corina Creţu, after the talks held with the PM Dacian Cioloş. The latter said Romania needed a de-politicized administration that should function based on criteria of transparency and efficiency. The two have also discussed the operational programs of the EU budget for the period 2014- 2020, when Romania can access more than 35 billion euros from the EU.



    The American embassy in Bucharest will cooperate with the new Romanian government in order to consolidate the strategic partnership between the two countries. The statement was made Friday in Bucharest by the head of the American diplomatic mission, Hans Klemm, at his meeting with the Romanian PM Dacian Cioloş. Ambassador Klemm also gave assurances that the American embassy would continue cooperation with the Romanian government in the fields of security, consolidating the rule of law and fighting corruption.



    The EU member states on Friday decided to immediately tighten control on the community’s external borders checking all persons including the European citizens, according to France Press. The decision was made on Friday at the extraordinary meeting of the EU interior ministers held in Brussels. Also the EU states asked for the rapid revision of the Schengen Space rules, in order to be able to introduce systematic controls of the European citizens. The extraordinary council of the EU interior ministers was convened following the terrorist attacks in Paris.



    The president of the Republic of Moldova, Nicolae Timofti, granted to the German chancellor Angela Merkel the title “The Order of the Republic” through a decree published Friday in the Official Gazette of Chisinau. The order was granted to the German official in sign of deep gratitude for her special contribution to the development and consolidation of Moldovan – German friendship relations and for the constant cooperation and support of Moldova’s European integration efforts. We recall that the German chancellor paid an official visit to Chisinau in 2012.



    At least 22 people were killed Friday in Bamako, the capital of Mali, after two armed men stormed a hotel, the authorities announced. Initially as many as 170 people, among whom many foreign citizens, were taken hostage. French special troops and American troops coming from the neighboring Burkina Faso participated in the intervention operations of the Malian army. The attack was claimed by a Jihadist group affiliated to Al-Qaida that is operating in the north of the country. The UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon condemned the terrorist attacks, which he labeled as horrific.


    (Translated by Lacramioara Simion)

  • November 20, 2015

    November 20, 2015

    EU interior and justice ministers are holding emergency talks in Brussels today, following the deadly attacks in Paris. Representing Romania is Interior Minister Petre Toba. The EU ministers will discuss about tightening security and new counter-terrorism measures in the wake of the November 13 attacks that killed 129 people in the French capital. French PM Manuel Valls said that the functioning of the Schengen area might be questioned if authorities in each European country fail to take responsibility for the people transiting their territory. The tragic events in Paris, seen as the work of the Islamic State militant group and the impact of thousands of migrants who came to Europe fleeing conflicts in the Middle East, have triggered an internal debate on the Schengen area.




    Several gunmen stormed a luxury hotel in Malis capital Bamako on Friday firing shots and shouting “Allahu Akbar”, or “God is great” in Arabic. The attackers took 170 hostages but some of them were freed after being made to recite verses from the Koran, Reuters reports. The hotel lies just west of the city centre near government ministries and diplomatic offices. On March 7, five people were killed in an attack on a restaurant in Mali’s capital for which an Islamist group claimed responsibility.




    Three weeks after the horrific fire at Bucharest’s Colectiv club the death toll reached 58, after another patient died in a German hospital on Friday. The Romanian Health Ministry announced that 44 people are still in Bucharest hospitals, 11 of them in a critical and serius condition. Around 29 people are being treated in hospitals abroad. On October 30 a fire broke out during a concert at the Colectiv club in Romania’s capital city, as fireworks set insulation foam ablaze, triggering a stampede towards the single exit and trapping many inside.




    European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Corina Cretu, is today meeting in Bucharest with Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos, deputy PM Vasile Dancu and with several other officials. Talks will focus on measures to be taken by Romanian authorities to speed up EU funds absotbtion. The main goal is to start operational prgrammes for the 2014-2020 financial framework, under which Romania was allocated 35 billion euros. On Thursday the new Government headed by Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos, adopted an emergency ordinance regarding the structure of ministries. Moreover, PM Ciolos announced the setting up of a new ministry, for Public Consultation and Civic Dialogue.




    The United States Ambassador in Bucharest, Hans Klemm, has said, that his country will continue to be a very strong ally, partner and friend of Romania. Ambassador Klemm made this statement on Thursday, when he invited Romanians to an online discussion about diplomacy, his ambassadorial term in Romania, the US-Romania friendship and the cultural and educational exchanges between the two countries. Ambassador Klemm also said that Washington, as strategic partner, wants a strong and healthy Romania, with a sustainable economic growth. On the other hand, Klemm said that, contrary to the popular myth that getting a tourist visa for the US is extremely difficult, the visa application procedure is in fact very simple. The American official explained that for the time being the stipulations of the Visa Waiver programme depend on the American legislation and that there are certain criteria that a country has to meet in order to qualify.



    (Translated by E. Enache)






  • September 21, 2015 UPDATE

    September 21, 2015 UPDATE

    The ruling coalition in Romania Monday decided to continue to support the Social Democrat Victor Ponta as PM. His situation was analysed by the National Executive Committee of the Social Democratic Party, the main party in the ruling coalition, after on Thursday the anti-corruption prosecutors formally indicted him for offences committed prior to his appointment as prime minister, when he was a lawyer. Victor Ponta faces charges of forgery, accessory to tax evasion and money laundering, in a corruption case involving contracts signed by the Turceni and Rovinari power companies. Ponta has repeatedly denied the charges. Meanwhile, the National Liberal Party, the main opposition party in Romania, Monday tabled a no-confidence motion on the governments lack of credibility as a result of Prime Minister Victor Pontas legal problems. The motion will be read out in Parliament on Wednesday, and the vote is scheduled for September 29. For the motion to pass, it needs 276 votes in Parliament. The proceedings against the prime minister and four other individuals, including the Social Democrat Senator Dan Sova, were initiated on Monday at Romanias Supreme Court.



    A joint meeting of the cabinets of Romania and the Republic of Moldova will be held on Tuesday in the Romanian Black Sea resort of Neptun. According to a news release issued by the Romanian government, special attention will be given to ways to carry on energy infrastructure projects, to ensure the inter-connection of the national electricity and natural gas systems. Other joint projects, in the field of transportation, agriculture, healthcare and education, will also be discussed. During the joint meeting, talks will also focus on the financial difficulties that the Republic of Moldova is experiencing, on Chisinaus efforts to stabilise the banking system and to sign an agreement with the IMF. On the other hand, Romania will reiterate its strong support for Moldovas European accession efforts.



    The Romanian deputy PM and Interior Minister, Gabriel Oprea, takes part on Tuesday in Brussels in an extraordinary Justice and Home Affairs Council focusing on the migration issue. He announced that Romania stands by its position as regards the number of migrants it can receive, namely 1,785 people, and if a vote is held, Romania will vote against mandatory relocation quotas. On Wednesday, also in Brussels, a special summit of the EU heads of state and government will be held, in an attempt to find solutions to the current migrant crisis in Europe. Many EU countries, particularly the central and east-European ones, oppose the mandatory redistribution of the 160 thousand migrants. The German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called on EU leaders to share the responsibility for the most serious migration crisis since the Second World War.



    The Romanian authorities are making preparations for the possible arrival of refugees in Romania. According to the interior ministry, an exercise is carried out in the western county of Timis, near the border with Serbia, related to the creation of temporary refugee camps. These military-type shelters are guarded by security forces and may accommodate hundreds of people. Meanwhile, the Romanian interior ministry Monday tabled a bill imposing harsher penalties for migrant smugglers. The bill increases the minimum penalty from 3 to 5 years in prison and the maximum one from 10 to 12 years. The proceeds from people trafficking operations are also to be seized. This initiative is designed to deter the recruitment, transport and people smuggling across the Romanian border.



    Romanias president Klaus Iohannis Monday received the new US ambassador to Bucharest, Hans Klemm, who also had a meeting with the Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu. According to the Foreign Ministry, the two discussed the bilateral political and military cooperation, means to broaden the economic cooperation, and aspects related to regional stability and security, with a focus on developments in Romanias neighbouring regions. Hans Klemm said that during his term he would focus on developing Romanian-American economic ties and providing assistance to Romania in the fight against corruption. Mark Gittenstein was the latest US ambassador to serve in Romania, his term ending in December 2012. Since then, the US embassy in Bucharest has been run by a charge daffaires.



    The European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker Monday called on the radical left-wing Syriza partys Alexis Tsipras, elected PM on Sunday, to maintain the stability of the country and comply with the reform calendar undertaken by Greece. Alexis Tsipras left-wing Syriza party won Sundays early elections in Greece, and will have 145 out of the 300 seats in Parliament, according to the final vote count. The Conservative leader Vangelis Meimarakis, Tsipras main rival, whose party will have 75 seats in Parliament, has conceded defeat. Alexis Tsipras said he would try to form a new ruling coalition together with the small right-wing Independent Greeks Party (10 seats in Parliament) in order to implement Greeces third bailout agreed in July in exchange for 86 billion euros.