Radio România Internațional

Tag: Eastern Partnership

June 18, 2020

EASTERN PARTNERSHIP – Romania’s
President Klaus Iohannis is today taking part in an Eastern Partnership
videoconference. The meeting is chaired by European Council President Charles
Michel, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the EU’s High
Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell. Attending
are heads of state and government from the EU27 in addition to the six partner
states in the region: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of
Moldova and Ukraine. The agenda will focus on three main topics: cooperation
and solidarity in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, reasserting the
strategic importance of the Eastern Partnership and its core values as well as the
Partnership’s achievements and long-term goals. President Iohannis will be
calling for a firm and continued commitment from the EU in its Eastern
Neighborhood, which based on the partner states’ visible progress in the field
of reforms, can become a stable, predictable and prosperous space, compatible
with European values and principles, the Presidency informs. In another move,
the President on Friday is attending the European Council meeting, also held in
videoconference format. The agenda will include the Economic Recovery Plan and
the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework recently proposed by the European
Commission, the negotiation process for the future relations between the
European Union and Great Britain, as well as foreign policy topics.

COVID-19 IN ROMANIA – The number of
confirmed infections continues to rise in Romania. Another 320 cases have been
reported since the last update, taking the total number of infected to 23.080.
Over 16.300 people have recovered and 1.473 have died. 178 patients are now in
intensive care. According to Health Minister Nelu Tataru, the rise in the
number of cases is the result of several measures aimed at easing lockdown
restrictions. On the other hand, Prime Minister Ludovic Orban said theatres and
restaurants in Romania, will be reopened whenever the epidemiological context
allows it. Prime Minister Ludovic Orban said that, for the time being, the
authorities don’t know how the situation will evolve, and has called on
everyone to remain vigilant and strictly observe the regulations.

COVID-19 IN THE WORLD – Some 8.4
million people around the world have been infected with COVID-19, with the
global death toll standing at some 451 thousand, considering over 4.4 million
people infected with SARS CoV2 have recovered, worldometers.info reports.
America totals some 4 million cases, followed by Europe with 2.5 million, the
Middle East with over 800 thousand and Southeastern Asia with over half a
million infections. According to BBC surveys, over 130.000 people worldwide
have died to the virus on top of officially reported fatalities. The World
Health Organization has announced its plans to restrict the clinical treatment
of COVID patients using hydroxychloroquine. WHO experts have concluded that
this medicine, commonly used to prevent malaria, has no impact in reducing mortality
rates.

PENSIONS – Parliament is
today debating and voting a draft law on taxing the so-called special pensions,
which was yesterday approved in the Chamber of Deputies. The vote is necessary
as the document also refers to the special pensions of MPs. Romanian deputies
decided to levy a tax on the difference between the special pension and the
regular contribution-based pension. Therefore a 10% tax will be levied on
pensions ranging between €400 and €1.450, while any pension above this mark
will be subject to an 85% tax.

NATO – Romanian Defense
Minister Nicolae Ciuca attended a NATO ministerial videoconference, on which occasion
he reiterated his call on NATO to increase its contribution to projects in the
Black Sea, a region of strategic importance to NATO. According to a Defense
Ministry release, NATO Defense Ministers reviewed progress in implementing NATO’s
deterrence and defense actions, with a focus on the ramifications generated by Russia’s
development of dual-capable missile systems. In this respect, NATO sanctioned a
package of political and military adjustment measures, reiterating its firm commitment
towards arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament efforts.

(Translated by V. Palcu)

18 June 2020
May 14, 2019

COUNCIL -
Romanian Agriculture Minister Petre Daea is today presiding the meeting of the
EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels. The main topic on the agenda is
the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy Reform Package. Ministers will also
exchange views on the new delivery model set out in the Commission proposal for
a regulation on the CAP strategic plans. On the sidelines of the Council
meeting, ministers will discuss a strategic long-term vision for a climate
neutral economy from the point of view of agriculture, as well as the declaration
of cooperation for a smart and sustainable digital future for European
agriculture and rural areas.

EASTERN
PARTNERSHIP – Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu called
for continuing reforms and modernization processes in ex-soviet states from the
Eastern Partnership. On Monday Minister Melescanu attended the Eastern
Partnership ministerial meeting in Brussels, bringing together Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. The Romanian
official hailed the 10th anniversary of the Partnership, coinciding
with the Romanian presidency of the Council of the European Union, as a good
opportunity to reassert the importance of the partnership to both EU citizens
and the citizens of the Eastern Partnership.

MILITARY -
An Italian military unit is deployed by NATO at the Mihail Koglniceanu base in
southeastern Romania, charged with carrying out air policing missions for the
first time in Romania. Over the next four months, 130 Italian military, pilots
and technical crew and four Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft will join Romanian Air
Force military and MiG-21 Lancer jets to carry out these missions under NATO
command. The joint air policing missions are aimed at developing the reaction
and deterrence capacity and consolidate interoperability between the two
countries’ Air Forces. The deployment of the Italian unit to Romania is part of
the action plan for ensuring NATO operational capacity in response to security
challenges on the Alliance’s eastern flank.

CANNES FESTIVAL – The 72nd edition of the Cannes Film
Festival is kicking off today and will run until May 25. Romania is represented
in the official and alternative film sections. Corneliu Porumboiu this year
competes for the Palme d’Or with his latest feature La Gomera / The
Whistlers, his first film produced abroad, on La Gomera island in Spain and in
Singapore. The short reel program entitled Romanian Short Waves will also be
featured in the Short Film Corner devoted to short reels and young talent. Among
the 13 short reels selected are Bogdan Muresanu’s Christmas Gift, Adi Voicu’s
The Last Trip to the Seaside and Today Artist, Tonight Taximetrist by
Dumitru Grosei. Also representing Romania is filmmaker, screen writer and
producer Catalin Mitulescu as a jury member for the Cinefondation and short
reel section.

EUROVISION -
The first semi-final of the Eurovision song contest is today taking place in
Tel Aviv. Representatives of 17 countries will tonight compete for a place in
the final. Last year’s winner, Netta Barzilai, will open the contest with a
remix of the song that won the trophy in 2018, Toy. Easter Peony, Romania’s
representative, will perform On a Sunday in the second semi-final on May 16.
The final will take place on May 18. The 2019 Eurovision Song Contest will
bring together representatives of 41 countries enrolled in the race for the
trophy.

TENNIS -
Romanian tennis player Irina Begu (113 WTA) is today playing Daria Kasatkina of
Russia (21 WTA) in the opening round at the WTA tournament in Rome, totaling
3.4 million dollars in prize money. Also today, Mihaela Buzarnescu (29 WTA) is
playing the former Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia (27 WTA).
In the second round world no. 2 Simona Halep will play the winner of the match
pitting Merketa Vondrousova against Barbora Strycova, both from the Czech
Republic.

(Translated by V. Palcu)

14 May 2019
May 11, 2019 UPDATE

Eastern Partnership — The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Monday will participate in Brussels in a meeting of the representatives of the Eastern Partnership countries, which marks 10 years since the setting up of this initiative. According to the presidential administration, the Romanian president will highlight the fact that the partnership contributed to the strengthening of the economies and societies of the eastern countries, and also to an enlarged stability of the EU borders. President Iohannis will also underline that the EU expects a permanent political commitment from the partner countries in terms of the observance of commitments made in their relation with the EU. The Eastern Partnership is an initiative which created a common area of democracy, prosperity, stability and close cooperation among the EU member states and partners states such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. The meeting will also be attended by other high-ranking EU officials.

Fitch — The Fitch international rating agency affirms ratings for Romania’s long term debts in hard and local currencies at BBB minus, with stable outlook for both, but warns that the budget deficit might rise to 3.4% of the GDP in 2019, shows a Fitch communiqué. Romania’s country ceiling has been affirmed at BBB plus, while the short-term local and hard-currency IDR (Issuer Default Rating) was affirmed at F3. In another move, the Fitch analysts draw attention that the budget and current account deficits, the foreign debt level over the average value reported in the states included in the same category of investments and the pro-cyclical fiscal policy are risks threatening Romania’s macroeconomic stability.

CCR — Romania’s Constitutional Court will discuss on May 28 the notification made Friday by the Romanian President Klaus Iohannis in relation to the recent modifications brought to the Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes and to the anti-corruption law. President Iohannis claims that in regard to the Criminal Code and the anti-corruption law the parliament also changed some provisions that were not related to the re-examination he had requested. As to the modification of the Criminal Procedure Code, the president says they failed to harmonize the texts previously criticized by the Constitutional Court. The opposition Liberals also submitted a notification on the same issue, which will be debated on May 22. The modifications adopted by Parliament and forwarded to the president for promulgation on May 2, reduce the statute of limitations for criminal liability, introduce a one-year deadline for denouncing cases of bribe taking and influence peddling, decriminalize dereliction of duty and diminish by half punishments for embezzlement and abuse of office.

Exercise – Exercise European Spartan 2019 will take place between May 13th to 24th at the 90th Airlift Base in Otopeni, in the context of Romania’s holding the rotating 6-month presidency of the Council of the EU. According to a Defense Ministry communiqué, this military exercise is part of a series of activities planned and organized by the European Defense Agency (EDA) and the Romanian Air Forces, as part of the EATF (European Air Transport Fleet) program. It is designed as a multinational training program in the field of air transportation. Participating in the exercise, alongside Romania are: Bulgaria, Italy, Lithuania, and Slovakia and observers from other states owning Spartan aircraft, from Europe and also from the US and Australia. (translation by L. Simion)

11 May 2019
May 11, 2019

Eastern Partnership — The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Monday will participate in Brussels in a meeting of the representatives of the Eastern Partnership countries, which marks 10 years since the setting up of this initiative. According to the presidential administration, the Romanian president will highlight the fact that the partnership contributed to the strengthening of the economies and societies of the eastern countries, and also to an enlarged stability of the EU borders. President Iohannis will also underline that the EU expects a permanent political commitment from the partner countries in terms of the observance of commitments made in their relation with the EU. The Eastern Partnership is an initiative which created a common area of democracy, prosperity, stability and close cooperation among the EU member states and partners states such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. The meeting will also be attended by other high-ranking EU officials.

Fitch — The Fitch international rating agency affirms ratings for Romania’s long term debts in hard and local currencies at BBB minus, with stable outlook for both, but warns that the budget deficit might rise to 3.4% of the GDP in 2019, shows a Fitch communiqué. Romania’s country ceiling has been affirmed at BBB plus, while the short-term local and hard-currency IDR (Issuer Default Rating) was affirmed at F3. In another move, the Fitch analysts draw attention that the budget and current account deficits, the foreign debt level over the average value reported in the states included in the same category of investments and the pro-cyclical fiscal policy are risks threatening Romania’s macroeconomic stability.

CCR — Romania’s Constitutional Court will discuss on May 28 the notification made Friday by the Romanian President Klaus Iohannis in relation to the recent modifications brought to the Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes and to the anti-corruption law. President Iohannis claims that in regard to the Criminal Code and the anti-corruption law the parliament also changed some provisions that were not related to the re-examination he had requested. As to the modification of the Criminal Procedure Code, the president says they failed to harmonize the texts previously criticized by the Constitutional Court. The opposition Liberals also submitted a notification on the same issue, which will be debated on May 22. The modifications adopted by Parliament and forwarded to the president for promulgation on May 2, reduce the statute of limitations for criminal liability, introduce a one-year deadline for denouncing cases of bribe taking and influence peddling, decriminalize dereliction of duty and diminish by half punishments for embezzlement and abuse of office.

Tennis — World’s no. 3 tennis player, the Romanian Simona Halep, is today playing in the finals of the Madrid tournament which has prizes up for grabs worth a total of 7 million Euros. This is her 4th final in Madrid. Halep will take on the Dutch Kiki Bertens, world’s no. 7 player. In the semifinals the Romanian player defeated the Swiss Belinda Bencic (18 WTA), while Kiki Bertens eliminated the American Sloane Stephens, world’s no. 8. Halep won the Madrid tournament in 2016 and 2017. If she wins today’s final, she will return on Monday on top position in the WTA ranking. The men’s Romanian-Dutch pair Horia Tecău/Jean-Julien Rojer qualified to the doubles final of the Mdrid tournament, after defeating 2-1 in the sets the pair Wesley Koolhof (the Netherlands)/Stefanos Tsitsipas (Greece). Tecău and Rojer, champions in Madrid in 2016, will play Sunday against the winners of the match pitting Diego Schwartzman (Argentina)/Dominic Thiem (Austria) against Guido Pella (Argentina)/Joao Sousa (Portugal). (translation by L. Simion)

11 May 2019
The European Parliament warns the Republic of Moldova

The Republic of Moldova was once the proud beneficiary of the Eastern Partnership, a program under which the European Union is trying to propagate democracy and prosperity in the former Soviet area, which also includes Georgia, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus. Alongside Tbilisi and Kiev, Chisinau signed association and free trade agreements with Brussels 4 years ago, taking a huge step forward on its European path.

In time, however, the evaluation of community bodies has become stricter. The European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs on Tuesday endorsed the draft report on the implementation of the Association Agreement with the Republic of Moldova, and the document raises concerns about the deterioration of democratic values observance. Just like the Venice Commission experts have also warned, the adoption of the mixed voting system in the parliamentary elections to be held next year, when half of the deputies are running on lists and the others are elected by uninominal vote, benefits mostly big parties- the west-leaning Democratic Party, in power, and the Socialist Party of the pro-Russian president Igor Dodon.

A deviation from the classical standards of democracy is also the cancelation of the June mayoral elections in the capital city, Chisinau. The winner, former civic activist and one of the current leaders of the pro-European opposition, Andrei Năstase, was found guilty of violating the Electoral Code, for having urged Moldovan citizens to go the polls on the voting day. The Moldovan PM himself, Pavel Filip, admitted back then that the court ruling “raises many question marks” and that “various speculations which are not favouring the current government are being circulated”. From neighbouring Romania, which has always supported Moldova’s European aspirations, foreign minister Teodor Meleşcanu, has warned that the measure might affect the republic’s stability.

In their turn, the European ambassadors have said the decision to annul the elections and the way it was made deprives the inhabitants of Chisinau of their democratically elected mayor. The European Commission has also announced that until political conditions related to democracy, the rule of law and human rights are met, the payment of the first instalment of the macro-financial assistance granted to Moldova, amounting to 100 million Euros, will be suspended.

The report drafted by the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs also denounces pressure exerted on the opposition leaders, the judiciary’s lack of independence and the power’s monopoly over the mass media. Radio Romania correspondents quote analyst Ion Tăbîrţă as saying that Chisinau’s relations with Brussels are souring. The analyst also warns that apart from suspending the disbursement of macro-assistance, the EU might also reintroduce visas for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova who travel to the EU.

10 October 2018
In the aftermath of the Eastern Partnership

Late last week, Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis attended in Brussels the Eastern Partnership Summit, devoted to the EU’s relations with states in the eastern neighborhood and the Caucasus. At the summit, Klaus Iohannis said that the EU must keep supporting in a consistent manner the six Eastern Partnership members’ modernization and reform efforts. He stressed the fact that it’s not enough for the EU to call on the partners to implement reforms, without providing in its turn support to that end.

In Brussels, the Romanian head of state also had bilateral meetings with the Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip and with his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Porosenko. Moldova’s European integration efforts and the issue of education for Romanian ethnics in Ukraine were the main topics approached during the talks.

President Klaus Iohannis: “Reforms continue. Of course, there is much left to be done, but we have seen improvement, which gives us confidence that the Republic of Moldova really wants to focus on and pursue European integration. We are helping at various levels, including by means of concrete measures, such as the financial aid granted by the Romanian state to the Republic of Moldova.”

During the meeting with president Petro Porosenko, the talks focused on education in the Romanian language in the neighboring country, and the Romanian head of state said that solutions could be found to properly settle the issue.

President Klaus Iohannis once again: “I told president Petro Porosenko that the matter is of utmost importance to us and a solution must be found. He promised he would take into account all the recommendations made by the Venice Commission with regard to changing the relevant legislation. The second request I made was to include us and representatives of the Romanian community in Ukraine in the consultations on the changes regarding education in the Romanian language in Ukraine.”

Endorsed by the Ukrainian Parliament in September, the new education law restricts national minorities’ rights with regard to education in their mother tongues. According to the new law, classes are taught in Ukrainian in secondary school, high-school and higher education institutions, and education in minority languages is only allowed in kinder gardens and primary schools. Besides Klaus Iohannis, who, because of the law, cancelled his visit to Kiev, the new law has been criticized by the Romanian parliament, government and foreign ministry, as well as by the representatives of the half a million ethnic Romanians living in Ukraine.

27 November 2017
November 24, 2017 UPDATE

SUMMIT – Romanias president Klaus Iohannis said in Brussels on Friday that the EU must continue to support in a consistent manner the modernisation and reform efforts of the 6 Eastern Partnership countries. He encouraged a solid EU policy for its eastern neighbours, a region that must become predictable, stable and prosperous, committed to the European principles and values. At the 5th Eastern Partnership summit, 20 goals were agreed on and included in a roadmap for 2020. Launched in 2009, the Eastern Partnership is designed to promote political association and economic integration between the EU and 6 partners in Eastern Europe – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

PRESIDENCY – The president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, had a meeting in Brussels on Friday with his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Porosenko, on the sidelines of the Eastern Partnership summit. The main topic approached was Romanian-language education in Ukraine, in the context of president Porosenko promulgating a controversial education law in September. President Iohannis said his counterpart promised that all the recommendations of the Venice Commission with respect to this law will be taken into account, and that before being endorsed the prospective changes of the act will be discussed with Romanian officials and representatives of the Romanian community in Ukraine. Also on the sidelines of the summit, president Iohannis had talks with the prime minister of the Republic of Moldova, Pavel Filip. On this occasion, Iohannis reiterated that Romania supports Moldovas pro-European aspirations.

LABOUR – The Romanian Labour Minister, Lia Olguta Vasilescu, said on Friday that Romania is struggling with a severe deficit in the labour market, particularly in the IT sector, healthcare, constructions and agriculture. She added that the country needs to find solutions to this problem, and one of them would be to persuade the Romanians working abroad to come back home. These statements were made during a debate on the economic, social and cultural development of Romanian rural areas, organised in Bucharest and attended, among others, by the Agriculture Minister, Petre Daea.

JUDICIARY – The Chamber of Deputies Speaker and leader of the leftist Social Democratic Party, Liviu Dragnea, Friday challenged at the High Court of Cassation and Justice a protective asset seizure by the National Anti-Corruption Directorate in the case known as “Tel Drum. Prosecutors sought to make sure that the over 25 million euros worth of damages in this case will be recovered. Dragnea is charged for offences that include the setting up of an organised crime group, abuse of office and fraud, which he allegedly perpetrated when he chaired the Teleorman County Council. According to the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, the case was based on a notification sent by the European Anti-Fraud Office, OLAF, with respect to several misdeeds, including the use of false documents to illegally obtain European funding for county road repair works.

ATTACK – Egypt observes 3-day national mourning after more than 200 people were killed on Friday in an attack on a mosque in the north of Sinai Peninsula. According to international news agencies, the perpetrators detonated a bomb then started shooting the believers in the mosque located in a region where authorities are fighting an Egyptian group affiliated to the Islamic State. Since the Egyptian Army ousted the Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, in 2013, the jihadists have attacked security forces and civilians in northern Sinai on a regular basis, news agencies also report.

RUGBY – Romanias national rugby team is playing a test match against Tonga on Saturday in Bucharest. If it wins, Romania, currently ranked no 14th in the world, will go one place up. A week ago, Romania won a test match against Samoa, 17-13, on home turf.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

24 November 2017
November 24, 2017

SUMMIT — Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis is today attending the fifth Eastern Partnership summit held in Brussels under the Estonian Presidency of the European Council. President Klaus Iohannis will encourage a robust policy in the EU’s eastern neighbourhood, an area that must become a predictable, stable and prosperous space, devoted to European values and principles by means of irreversible reforms. On this occasion, EU leaders will agree on a set of 20 objectives to be included on a roadmap for 2020. Launched in 2009, the Eastern Partnership is a joint initiative involving the EU, its member states and 6 partners, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, representing the eastern region of the European Neighbourhood Policy. The Partnerships is based on a commitment to the principles of international law and the values of democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and fundamental freedoms.

CEREMONY — Romanian Defense Minister Mihai Fifor is today taking part in the graduation ceremony for the 18th NATO Regional Cooperation Course (NRCC — 18) organised by the NATO Defense College in Rome. The mission of the Defense College is to contribute to the effectiveness and cohesion of the Alliance by developing its role as a major centre of education and research on transatlantic security issues. In 2017, a record number of Romanian students attended the 10-week programme. On Thursday, Mihai Fifor discussed with his Italian counterpart, Roberta Pinotti, about concrete ways of cooperation to consolidate the European project in the field of defense, with an emphasis on the Permanent Structured Cooperation. Fifor also said it is important for Romanian and Italian military to further participate in multinational exercises in order to improve interoperability.

STELA POPESCU — Stela Popescu, one of Romania’s most love actresses, died on Thursday, November 23. She would have turned 82 on December 21st. The actress was found dead at her home in Bucharest. She was one of the country’s most famous and popular film and theatre actresses, with a career of 60 years. Stela Popescu went on a great number of tours in Romania and abroad and throughout her career she received many awards and decorations. In 2015 Stela Popescu received the The Star of Romania Order in the rank of knight from President Klaus Iohannis. She also has a star on the Walk of Fame in Bucharest.

GAUDEAMUS BOOK FAIR — The Gaudeamus Book Fair, organised by Radio Romania, continues in Bucharest. Over 150 events are today taking place at the fair that fair brings together, until Sunday, 300 exhibitors and over 800 editorial and professional events. Exhibiting are Romanian publishing houses boasting a long tradition in the field, universities, book distributors and sellers, publications, professional associations and NGOs. The honorary president of the Gaudeamus Book Fair is the famous Romanian playwright and journalist established in France, Matei Visniec, and the honorary guest of the fair this year is the European Commission.

FOOTBALL – The Romanian football team FCSB have sustained their first defeat in this year’s edition of Europa League. Away from home, Romania’s vice-champions were outclassed by Czech contenders Viktoria Plzen 2-nil, in the last-but-one fixture of Europa League’s group stage.

(Translated by Elena Enache)

24 November 2017
European Funds for the Republic of Moldova

The Republic of Moldova and the European Union on Thursday signed
the documents for a financial aid package worth €100 million, of which €40
million non-reimbursable funding. Moldova is expected to receive the funds by
the end of the year and must invest it in four development programs. The
documents underlying the financial deal will be submitted to the Moldovan
Parliament for approval.

Meanwhile, Chisinau authorities are making efforts to
fulfill all requirements for disbursing the first installment of the loan.
According to Radio Chisinau, several MEPs and Moldovan politicians had insisted
the financial aid be postponed after Parliament had changed the election
system, despite being advised against it by the Venice Commission.

On the
sidelines of the Eastern Partnership Summit, the European Council President
Donald Tusk and Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip discussed the
implementation of Moldova’s Association Agreement with the European Union and
the developments in Moldova. Tusk highlighted the fact that the Republic of
Moldova is one of the most important members of the Eastern Partnership,
commending Moldovans’ confidence in the EU.

In turn, Filip reiterated his
country’s efforts to join the community bloc, which is transparent in recent
surveys, showing an increased support from Moldovan citizens for their
country’s EU accession. Pavel Filip reassured Tusk that his Government’s list
of priorities includes securing the independence of the judiciary, continuing
efforts to investigate bank fraud and hold the people involved accountable, as
well as implementing the new election law in line with the recommendations of
the Venice Commission.

In another development, Moldova’s Justice Minister
Vladimir Ceboratri has stated in Bucharest that his country relies on Romania’s
support for its EU accession. Western leaders have voiced concern over the
level of corruption in Chisinau, which in 2014 led the mysterious disappearance
of $1 billion, the equivalent of 15% of its GDP, by means of a massive bank
fraud.

For fear they might see their funds sucked into a black hole, the EU,
the IMF and the World Bank have temporarily suspended their financial
assistance to Chisinau. At the time
Romania was the only country that gave €150 million to Moldova on loan over a
four and a half years period, at a preferential interest rate of 1.45%. (Translated by Vlad Palcu)

24 November 2017
European Funds for the Republic of Moldova

The Republic of Moldova and the European Union on Thursday signed
the documents for a financial aid package worth €100 million, of which €40
million non-reimbursable funding. Moldova is expected to receive the funds by
the end of the year and must invest it in four development programs. The
documents underlying the financial deal will be submitted to the Moldovan
Parliament for approval.

Meanwhile, Chisinau authorities are making efforts to
fulfill all requirements for disbursing the first installment of the loan.
According to Radio Chisinau, several MEPs and Moldovan politicians had insisted
the financial aid be postponed after Parliament had changed the election
system, despite being advised against it by the Venice Commission.

On the
sidelines of the Eastern Partnership Summit, the European Council President
Donald Tusk and Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip discussed the
implementation of Moldova’s Association Agreement with the European Union and
the developments in Moldova. Tusk highlighted the fact that the Republic of
Moldova is one of the most important members of the Eastern Partnership,
commending Moldovans’ confidence in the EU.

In turn, Filip reiterated his
country’s efforts to join the community bloc, which is transparent in recent
surveys, showing an increased support from Moldovan citizens for their
country’s EU accession. Pavel Filip reassured Tusk that his Government’s list
of priorities includes securing the independence of the judiciary, continuing
efforts to investigate bank fraud and hold the people involved accountable, as
well as implementing the new election law in line with the recommendations of
the Venice Commission.

In another development, Moldova’s Justice Minister
Vladimir Ceboratri has stated in Bucharest that his country relies on Romania’s
support for its EU accession. Western leaders have voiced concern over the
level of corruption in Chisinau, which in 2014 led the mysterious disappearance
of $1 billion, the equivalent of 15% of its GDP, by means of a massive bank
fraud.

For fear they might see their funds sucked into a black hole, the EU,
the IMF and the World Bank have temporarily suspended their financial
assistance to Chisinau. At the time
Romania was the only country that gave €150 million to Moldova on loan over a
four and a half years period, at a preferential interest rate of 1.45%. (Translated by Vlad Palcu)

24 November 2017
May 15, 2017

PROTEST – Nearly 22,000 employees with the Romanian Finance Ministry have taken part today in an unplanned protest, in response to the salary bill under debate in Parliament. They say the draft law puts them at a disadvantage. Trade union leaders in the sector had talks with representatives of the Ministry, but no results have been reached and negotiations will be resumed on Wednesday. The protesters call on the Government and the Finance Ministry to revise the pay schemes in the bill, so that they should reflect the complexity and importance of the activity of the Ministry and its subordinated units. They warn that the strike is open-ended, which may hamper the tax collection activities and the institutions public relations. Employees of the customs system are also taking part in the protest.

CYBER-SECURITY – The Romanian Intelligence Service is organising the first national cyber-security exercise, which will last until Wednesday and involve more than 60 public and private institutions. The effort is designed to help develop an efficient warning, alert and response system against cyber attacks and other incidents. According to the Romanian Intelligence Service, the excercise had been planned before the ransomware attack that crippled computers around the world late last week. Fridays global attack known as “WannaCry made over 200,000 victims, especially institutions, from at least 150 countries. The Romanian Intelligence Service confirmed that Romania was affected by the attack since May 12, but the scope is yet to be determined. One of the targets was the Romanian Foreign Ministry, where an attempted cyber attack was countered on Friday.

INFLATION – The National Bank of Romania has revised downwards its inflation forecast for the end of the year, from 1.7% to 1.6%, and the one for 2018 from 3.4% to 3.1%, the central bank governor Mugur Isarescu announced on Monday. Since 2013, the National Banks inflation target has been 2.5% per year, plus/minus 1%. The inflation targeting strategy was introduced in line with the European Central Bank policies, but the central bank of Romania rarely managed to meet this target. In 2016, the inflation target was negative 0.5%, slightly below estimates, according to the National Statistics Institute, mostly due to the lowering of the standard VAT rate from 24% to 20%, as of January 1, 2016.

EU – The EU Foreign Ministers are analysing today, in a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, the progress made under the Eastern Partnership, which focuses on the cooperation with 6 ex-Soviet states, including the Republic of Moldova. Romania is represented by Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu. The talks take place ahead of the Partnership summit due in November in Brussels. The agenda of the meeting also includes the implementation of the EU global defence strategy, as well as developments in the Horn of Africa, particularly in terms of politics and security. On the sidelines of the Council meeting, a working lunch is held by the “Friends of Ukraine Group, which includes the EU foreign ministers and their Ukrainian counterpart, Pavlo Klimkin.

FRANCE – The new President of France, the centrist Emmanuel Macron, sworn in on Sunday, is to appoint a prime minister who should announce the names in his new cabinet on Tuesday. Macron has kept the name of the next prime minister under veils, but according to the media the most likely to be nominated is the mayor of the western French port-city of Le Havre, Édouard Philippe. Also today, Macron has a meeting in Berlin with Chancellor Angela Merkel, with whom, commentators say, he will try to rebuild the French-German tandem as a driving engine of EU development. According to Radio Romanias correspondent in Paris, the agenda of talks includes topics like continental security, economy, investments and social protection.

CANNES – The Romanian director, script writer and producer Cristian Mungiu is the president of Cinéfondation and the short-reel section in the 70th Cannes Film Festival due on May 17-28. A foremost representative of the “Romanian new wave, Cristian Mungiu has a long-standing tradition of being a part of the Cannes Festival. After the Palme dOr won for his second feature film, “4, 3, 2, he was also awarded for the script of “Beyond the Hills and for directing “Baccalaureate. In related news, 200 minutes of Romanian shorts will be presented this year in Cannes, as part of a programme called “Romanian Short Waves. Another Romanian director, Alexander Nanau, who signed the photography for Sonia Kronlunds “Nothingwood, will take part in the screening of the film in the “Quinzaine des réalisateurs section.

TENNIS – The Rome tennis tournament, with 2.7 million US dollars in total prize money, begins today, with Romanian players also taking part. Irina Begu (44 WTA) is up for a difficult start, with a match against Latvias Anastasija Sevastova (18 WTA), while Monica Niculescu (48 WTA) will also be taking on a top player, the Dutch Kiki Bertens (20 WTA). After having recently won the Madrid tournament for the second running year, Simona Halep (4 WTA) will go straight into the second round in Rome, to play the winner of the match pitting the German Laura Siegemund (35 WTA) against the Japanese Naomi Osaka (49 WTA). Monica Niculescu is also taking part in the doubles event, together with Christina McHale of the US, against the pair made up of Sara Errani and Martina Trevisan of Italy. In the mens doubles, Horia Tecău of Romania and the Dutch Jean-Julien Rojer play today against the Americans John Isner and Jack Sock, while Florin Mergea and the Pakistani Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi will play against Tommy Haas of Germany / Max Mirnyi of Belarus.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

15 May 2017
The European Union from Turkey to the Eastern Partnership

The EU foreign ministers who on Monday got together in Brussels tackled the recent developments in the Eastern Partnership countries, the fight against terrorism, the situation in Iraq and the developments in Libya. Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu represented Romania at the meeting. The debates of the Eastern Partners focused on the implementation of their strategies and commitments and on the EU’s support for reforms in those countries.

Minister Lazar Comanescu said in an official press release that in the current regional and internal context, decision makers in the Republic of Moldova should increase efforts to form a stable pro-European government able to go ahead with the reforms. Comanescu called on the EU to further send signals to the Moldovan political class so that the country should further follow the path of reforms and stability.

The Republic of Moldova has been dealing with a serious political crisis after the government headed by the Liberal Democrat Valeriu Strelet was dismissed on October 29, through a no-confidence motion, by the pro-Russian leftist opposition with the support of the Democratic Party, a member of the government coalition. The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, has called on Chisinau to do their best to overcome the current political crisis. Mogherini has admitted that the situation in the ex-Soviet Republic of Moldova is a reason for concern, but she has pointed out that the solution to the political crisis lies with the country’s politicians.

As far as Ukraine is concerned, at the Brussels meeting Foreign Minister Comanescu voiced support for the reform process to continue, so as to allow for the implementation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement as of January 1st 2016 and emphasized once more the need for the Minsk accords to be fully implemented.

It is worth mentioning that, on the sidelines of the Brussels meeting, the 28 EU foreign ministers had a working luncheon with their Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu. On that occasion, Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu expressed satisfaction at the new boost given to the EU-Turkish relationship. Brussels and Ankara on Monday resumed Turkey’s EU accession negotiations, by opening, after years of deadlock, Chapter 17, which regards the economic and monetary policy. Romanian Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu hailed Turkey’s contribution to supporting international efforts to settle the conflicts in Syria and Libya.

(Translated by Elena Enache)

15 December 2015