MEDIA – The situation of the media in
Romania is not very rosy, there is plenty of room for improvement and the
country should show the headway made in this respect in the upcoming rule of
law report, the European Commission’s Vice-president for values and
transparency, Věra Jourová, said in Brussels on Wednesday. According to the
European Commission’s 2022 rule of law report, media in Romania is facing a
series of issues such as the incomplete transparency of the media ownership and
the cases in which journalists have been subjected to harassment and violence.
Asked if the new legislative instruments proposed by the European Commission
last year and currently under implementation are enough to tackle this issue, Věra
Jourová gave an affirmative answer. Romania still has enough space to do
something in this respect without being pushed by the EU laws. I went to
Romania and want to go back again due to the legal issues and of course it is
in Romania’s interest to also show some progress in the rule of law report in
July, Věra Jourová went on to say.
ECHR – Sebastian Răduleţu has been
elected by the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly for a 9-year term at
the European Court for Human Rights. Rădulețu grabbed 84 of the 165 votes in
the second round. ECHR judges are elected from a list of three candidates
nominated by every country that ratified the European Convention on Human
Rights. Right now, representing Romania at the ECHR is Iulia Motoc, who
starting next year will take on a new job at the International Criminal Court.
TALKS – The Education Committee with
the Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest on Thursday continued talks over the
amendments in the University Education Law after the talks over the
pre-university education were concluded on Wednesday. The talks focused on
articles and amendments regarding research as well as the overall activity of
students. The Committee preserved the Education Ministry’s proposals regarding
the psychological and teacher training program at university level. The line
minister Ligia Deca pointed out the draft law also stipulates measures for
increasing the level of training and financial support for graduates opting for
an academic career. Additionally, under the new law, rectors can be elected for
a five-year term for a maximum of two terms in a specific institution.
SUPPORT – As of May 1st, the
executive in Bucharest is changing the way of granting financial support to the
Ukrainian refugees. The assistance will be given directly to refugees, not to
the family housing them, as has been the case so far. The grant is
unconditionally offered only for one month after which the refugees will have
to find jobs and send their children to schools or kindergartens. If they want
to benefit from financial support from the fifth month of their stay they must
prove they have found a job in Romania.
MOLDOVA – The president of Moldova,
Maia Sandu, has again accused Russia of interfering with the domestic affairs
of the Republic, just two days before elections are scheduled in the Autonomous
Territorial Unit of Găgăuzia (ATUG). In an appearance on a local TV station, president
Sandu said several candidates enrolled in Sunday’s election are Russian agents.
We are witnessing a blatant ingression into the ballot in Găgăuzia, the
president added. Russia has never respected the sovereignty and independence of
the Republic of Moldova, and it is now trying to destabilize the country in
order to obstruct its European track and cause chaos, the Moldovan official
argued. According to Maia Sandu, Russia funds protests and various parties in
the Republic of Moldova to help pro-Russian politicians return to power.
Relying on the support of the European Union, Chișinău authorities have opposed
Moscow’s efforts. In turn, Russia has denied the accusations. (VP)