Radio România Internațional

Tag: EP

March 14, 2024 UPDATE

Treasure – The European Parliament adopted, on Thursday, a resolution by which it asks Russia to fully return Romania’s national treasure, which it illegally appropriated. This is an unprecedented international case of illegal appropriation of gold reserves and heritage objects and represents a permanent concern for the Romanian society, the MEPs emphasize. According to the resolution, the Parliament welcomes the substantial efforts of the European Union to protect the national, cultural and historical heritage, through the implementation of the legislation and of the cooperation mechanisms that regulate the restitution of cultural and heritage assets illegally appropriated from the territories of the Union countries, as well as its efforts to fight the trafficking in cultural assets. The MEPs request the European Commission and the European External Action Service to include the restitution of the Romanian national heritage on the bilateral diplomatic agenda that regulates EU-Russia relations, as soon as the regional context allows the resumption of political dialogue between the parties. During the First World War, between 1916 and 1917, Romania sent the national treasure (which included significant amounts of gold, heritage items, art collections, jewels, archives) to allied tsarist Russia, to be protected in case of occupation of the national territory by German, Austro-Hungarian, Bulgarian and Turkish enemy troops. After the Bolshevik regime founded by Vladimir Ilyich Lenin came to power, Russia seized the treasure and refused to return it, most of the values remaining unreturned to this day. The issue of returning the Treasure has been discussed, unsuccessfully, for decades by a joint Romanian-Russian commission.

Inflation – The annual inflation rate in Romania fell to 7.2% in February, from 7.4% in the previous month – according to the data of the National Institute of Statistics. The prices of non-food stuffs increased the most, on average, followed by service and food prices. In the top of price hikes in the last 12 months, postal services and detergents are on the first places, followed by water, sewage, and sanitation services and the hygiene, cosmetic and medical services and articles.

Searches – The Romanian prosecutors and police officers found pyrotechnic materials, lethal firearms and white weapons at the residences of supporters of the football team Rapid Bucharest, one of the most popular in the country, following searches carried out on Thursday in Bucharest and the counties of Ilfov, Prahova (south) and Iasi (northeast). According to judicial sources, the president of the Rapid club, former international footballer Daniel Niculae, is a suspect in the case. According to a press release from the Prosecutor’s Office attached to the Bucharest Court, 17 people were charged with the crimes of forming an organized crime group, operations with pyrotechnic articles carried out without having the right, non-compliance with the weapons and ammunition regime and destruction. The Prosecutor’s Office attached to the Bucharest Court notes that in the course of 2023, an organized crime group was established in the city of Bucharest, which was joined by several people and whose purpose was to introduce and use pyrotechnic materials in the football stadiums, during the matches, disturbing public order through violence against property and destruction of the grass court through the use of pyrotechnic materials, causing degradation of the grass through the explosion of pyrotechnic materials, endangering the physical integrity of other people (ball girls, stewards, football players, firefighters, reporters). On the occasion of the home searches, several pyrotechnic materials, lethal firearms, white weapons and sums of money were discovered and seized.

Hungary – The circulation of all vehicles heavier than 7.5 tons will be restricted on Friday in Hungary. The measure will apply to Romania’s borders with the neighboring state starting Thursday evening, from 11:00 p.m. The restrictions will not apply to means of transport that carry dangerous goods, live animals or perishable food products or that have a special temperature regime. The border authorities of the two states will keep in constant contact with a view to establishing common measures, so that when the traffic restrictions for motor vehicles on the territory of Hungary are lifted, the border control should be carried out efficiently. March 15 is the Day of Hungarians Everywhere. (LS)

14 March 2024
March 5, 2024 UPDATE

Treasure – The National Bank of Romania and MEP Eugen Tomac organized an exhibition at the European Parliament on Tuesday about the Romanian Treasure owned by Russia and which has not been returned to our country for over a hundred years. It is a unique case in history, and Bucharest wants to bring it to the attention of the European Union as another example of violation of international law by Moscow. Next week, the European Parliament is expected to demand the reparation of this injustice, through a resolution supported by all political groups. The treasure consists of 91 tons of gold, works, artifacts and archival documents, which were sent to Moscow in 1916 and 1917, during the First World War, when much of the country was occupied by the forces of the Central Powers. Later, after the Bolshevik Revolution of 1918, the Soviet Union and then the Russian Federation refused to return the treasure, except for works of art and other cultural values. The exhibition at the European Parliament presents legal evidence and historical documents regarding the sending of the Romanian Treasure to Moscow, as well as Russia’s commitments to return it at the request of our country.

Meeting – The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, had a meeting, on Tuesday, in Bucharest, with his counterpart from the neighboring Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu. Earlier, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu also discussed with Maia Sandu. In the context he reconfirmed his “firm” support for Chisinau’s European path. The meetings took place a day before the Congress of the European People’s Party (EPP), scheduled in Bucharest on Wednesday and Thursday. Led by Iohannis before he became president, the National Liberal Party – PNL (today in the governing coalition with the Social Democratic Party – PSD) is affiliated with EPP. Present in Bucharest, the president of the European People’s Party, Manfred Weber, said that he supported the decision to have “someone from a Central or Eastern European country” at the head of the EU, in the next mandates of the community institutions. Over 1,500 representatives of the European People’s Party, including 13 heads of state and government, are in Romania to participate in the congress of this political group in the next two days.

Motion – The Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday dismissed the simple motion against Finance Minister Marcel Boloș, filed by Save Romania Union – USR and Force of the Right opposition parties. The motion was debated on Monday, opposition members criticizing the Minister for introducing a 10% tax on medical leave to cover the holes in the state budget. Minister Boloș is also accused of violating the law that stipulates that any tax must be enacted six months after its introduction. Marcel Boloș denied all accusations, slamming the opposition’s motion as a politicized initiative. The healthcare system is underfunded, and the government sought to discourage medical leave, which would bring less benefit to working employees, the Finance Minister said in response.

Tennis – The Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne has shortened tennis player Simona Halep’s sentence for doping from 4 years to nine months. The Romanian, the former world number one, will be able to return to the court, as her provisional suspension began on October 7, 2022. The Court decision, published on the court’s website, is final. We remind you that the tennis player has always claimed that she took a contaminated supplement, and at the hearings in February, she sought the help of a French expert specialized in pharmacology, toxicology and biology. The International Tennis Integrity Agency stated in September 2023 that Simona intentionally violated the anti-doping rules and suspended her for 4 years.

Drugs – In Romania, high-risk drug traffickers will no longer be able to receive suspended sentences, and trading psychoactive substances will be punishable by 3 to 10 years in prison. A draft law in this regard was adopted on Tuesday by the Chamber of Deputies, which is a decision-making body. The MPs emphasized that the phenomenon of drug use has been ignored for a long time and that additional measures are needed to combat it: border scanners, rehabilitation and prevention centers. (LS)

5 March 2024
Romania’s president at the European Parliament

Initiated in 2022, shortly after the Russian Federation started its war against Ukraine, the debate series “This Is Europe” has reached its 13th edition, in which the president of Romania Klaus Iohannis presented his views on the future of Europe and solutions to the problems it is facing before the European Parliament.

The European project requires attention, effort, patience and integrity on a daily basis, if we are to live free, in a united and thriving Europe, the Romanian official said in Strasbourg, adding that present-day Romania is a strong advocate of coordinated action in the spirit of European values.

“We have a responsibility to support a Europe that carries forward these principles and values, including towards our friends in the European neighbourhood that have chosen our democracy and development model. And a key stage in this process is the European elections. The priorities we will define together after these elections will have to help us give pragmatic responses to the challenges of the present and to prepare better for the challenges of the future,” president Iohannis believes.

The Romanian official also mentioned the unprecedented geostrategic challenges facing the Union. “The rules-based international order is being challenged over and over again. Russia pursues its aggression against Ukraine. Around the Union, instability and insecurity have reached alarming levels. The open conflict in the Middle East, the situation in the Red Sea, and the worrying developments in the Sahel, all these have a systemic impact on our own security,” Klaus Iohannis pointed out.

At the same time, he went on to say, “Climate change, economic difficulties, and illegal migration continue to generate their own negative impact, adding to the complexity of global dynamics. On top of all these challenges, we witness a crisis of values and, as far as I see it, a crisis of public trust in our institutions.”

The president of Romania emphasised the importance on EU action based on unity, solidarity, cohesion and the rule of law, and pleaded for continuing support for Ukraine, adding that defending democracy, territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as the rules-based international order cannot be subject to any “solidarity fatigue”.

In his speech, president Iohannis said Romania was one of the best examples of the transforming power of the EU, which has provided undeniable and concrete benefits for Romanian citizens. “Enlarging our European family by accepting new members will only strengthen the Union,” he argued, and mentioned the historic decisions made at the European Council in December 2023 with respect to the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Georgia.

The Romanian official also emphasised that the EU must remain a free movement area, and pleaded for Romanias full Schengen accession as soon as possible, thus allowing the country to make a concrete contribution to strengthening the security of the European bloc. (AMP)

8 February 2024
July 12, 2023

Summit — NATO reiterated the fact that Ukraine will become a member of the Alliance, said the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Vilnius summit. However, the moment of accession and the conditions that need to be fulfilled by Kyiv have not been established. The leaders of the NATO member states decided to simplify Ukraines accession procedures and to boost the total support that the Alliance will continue to provide to Kyiv in the war to free the territory occupied by Russia. Jens Stoltenberg announced that the decisions of the allies change Ukraines accession from a two-stage process to a single-stage one, ensure that the Ukrainian military will continue to receive support and that the Ukrainian officials will have a seat at the table of discussions through the formation of a new NATO-Ukraine Council. Attending the meeting, Romania’s President, Klaus Iohannis, stated that Romania will obtain a consolidation of NATOs eastern flank and increased attention for the Black Sea area, including for the neighboring Republic of Moldova. Today, a meeting of the North Atlantic Council at the level of heads of state and government is scheduled in Vilnius, in the presence of Sweden, as a guest, and of the partners from the Indo-Pacific region, Australia, South Korea, Japan and New Zealand. Vilnius is also hosting the first meeting of the NATO-Ukraine council in a new format.

Training — A coalition made up of 11 states will begin to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets in August in Denmark, while a training center will also be set up in Romania. “We hope that we will be able to see results at the beginning of next year,” Denmarks interim defense minister Troels Lund Poulsen told reporters on the sidelines of the NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius. NATO members Denmark and the Netherlands led an international coalition effort to train pilots and support staff, maintain aircraft, and eventually supply Ukraine with F-16s. Belgium and Luxembourg will also participate in this program, supported by the US, while France and Great Britain are providing assistance. The air forces of the latter and Luxembourg do not own F-16 aircraft. Currently, Romania has 17 F-16 aircraft and will acquire another 32 from Norway.

Schengen — The European Parliament will vote, today, the resolution based on a petition filed by the Romanian civil society which challenges the legality of Austrias veto regarding Romania’s accession to the Schengen area. MEP Vlad Gheorghe, a member of the Renew Europe political group, said that if it passed, the resolution would legally establish for the first time that what happened to Romania and Bulgaria represented discrimination. He emphasized that, also for the first time, compensation is being discussed for the financial losses that the two countries have incurred, as well as for environmental losses. The European Commission will be obliged to subsequently evaluate the losses incurred due to Austrias veto and to propose legal mechanisms by which Romania and Bulgaria will be compensated. We remind you that, at the end of last year, in the Justice and Home Affairs Council, a unanimous decision failed to be adopted in relation to the entry into the Schengen area of the two EU member countries, after Austria and the Netherlands opposed it. The Austrian chancellor, Karl Nehammer, motivated his country’s stand by bringing into question the illegal migrants who arrived in his country, many of whom would have come through Romania and Bulgaria, as he claimed, although the data is contradicted by the authorities in Bucharest. In turn, the Netherlands stated that it supported Romanias accession, but not together with that of Bulgaria.

Football — Romanias football champions, Farul Constanţa, meet today, at home, Sheriff Tiraspol from the Republic of Moldova, in the first preliminary round of the Champions League. The return match takes place in a week’s time. If it is eliminated in the first preliminary round, the team coached by the great former Romanian international footballer Gică Hagi will continue in the Conference League. Three other Romanian teams are already present in this competition. In the 2nd preliminary round, CFR Cluj, the team with the highest coefficient in the UEFA ranking, ensured its presence for the sixth consecutive year in the European cups and will meet Adana Demirspor, from Turkey. Sepsi, the winner of Romania’s Cup and Supercup, will play against CSKA Sofia from Bulgaria. The opponent of the vice-champions FCSB is CSKA 1948 Sofia, another team from Bulgaria. These three games are scheduled for July 27, and the return match one week later.

Statistics – The average net salary in Romania fell to 4,543 lei (approx. 915 Euros) in May this year, 0.5% less than in April 2023, the National Institute of Statistics (INS) announced on Wednesday. The average gross salary was 7,229 lei (approx. 1,460 Euros), 1.1% lower than in April 2023. The highest values of the average net salary were recorded in the IT service-provision field, and the smallest values in the hospitality industry. Compared to May 2022, the average net salary increased by 15.7%. In May, in most activities in the economic sector, the level of the average net salary decreased as a result of the granting, in the previous months, of occasional awards, rights in kind and money aid, sums from the net profit and from other funds. Also, the decreases in the average net salary were caused by production failures or lower receipts (depending on contracts/projects), as well as by the employment of personnel with lower than average salary earnings, from some economic activities, the aforementioned source states. (LS)

12 July 2023
January 3, 2023 UPDATE

IMF The IMF expects 2023 to be tougher than
2022 for most of the global economy. The main economic growth engines, namely
the United States, the European Union and China will see their economic
activity slow down, so that 2023 will be difficult for the global GDP, the head
of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, told the
American TV station CBS. In October, the
IMF downgraded its global economic outlook for 2023, following the war in
Ukraine, sharply rising interest rates and inflationist pressure. Georgieva
said that China, which sees a surge in COVID-19 cases following the dismantling
of its strict zero-COVID policy, may have its economy affected. Meanwhile,
the EU has been especially hard hit by the war in Ukraine, with half of the
bloc expected to be in recession this year, Georgieva said. Also, the global
growth rate will slow down from 3.2% in 2022 to 2.75 this year, while
governments will have to make sure they have sufficient revenues for
expenditure, as they will no longer be able to borrow money in advantageous
conditions. As regards Romania, the economic growth rate will slow down to 2.8% this year, from more than 5% in 2022.

NATO NATO allies will discuss, in the
upcoming months, about the share earmarked for defence, given that some of them
have requested that the current 2% share of national output to be the minimum
target spent on defence, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told the
German news agency DPA. The chief of the Alliance also said he would chair a
number of meetings on this topic, and that his goal was to reach an agreement
ahead of the next summit in Vilnius in July 2023.

SURVEY 2023 starts on a pessimistic note for
most Romanians, according to a survey conducted by the Romanian Institute for
Evaluation and Strategy. More than half of the participants in the poll believe
2023 will be worse for Romania than the year before. Active people aged 36 to
65 are the most pessimistic, while the less educated respondents are more optimistic
in this respect. In terms of living standards, half of respondents have little
expectations from the year that has just started. People aged over 51, with
monthly revenues below 400 euros, have the darkest view of the future. Unlike
them, those with incomes above 800 euros a month say 2023 will be the same as
2022. However, the most optimistic in terms of financial future are young
people aged below 35. As for the changes they would like to see in their
country, most respondents indicated the politicians, the political class or the
country leaders, followed by the Government and the ruling parties.

CORRUPTION The European Parliament has
launched an urgent procedure to wave the immunity of two members of the
European Parliament – Italian Andrea Cozzolino and Belgian Marc Tarabella,
following a request from the Belgian judicial authorities. A number of current
and former European officials or employees are investigated in this case. The
scandal began in December, with the arrest of the Greek MEP Eva Kaili, who is
accused of accepting large sums of money to peddle influence for Qatar and
Morocco at the European Parliament.

FOOTBALL FIFA will ask every country in the
world to name a stadium in honour of Pelé, said FIFA president Gianni Infantino,
attending the funeral in Santos, Brazil. Edson Arantes do Nascimento by his
real name, Pelé, the only footballer who won three world titles, died aged 82.
Throughout his career he scored almost 1,300 goals. He was designated
footballer of the 20th century by the International Olympic Committee in 1999,
Player of the Century by FIFA in 2000 and won the Golden Ball. (EE, AMP)

3 January 2023
The Week in Review 19-25.12.2022

The Romanian Revolution, 33 years ago

Ceremonies commemorating the heroes of the anti-communist Revolution of 1989 were organized, this week, in Romania. In the big cities, religious and wreath-laying ceremonies took place in the significant places for the historical moments that occurred 33 years ago. President Klaus Iohannis laid a wreath at the roadside monument in the University Square in the center of Bucharest, where he also observed a moment of silence. We remind you that the Romanian anti-communist Revolution started on December 16 in the city of Timisoara (west), to later extend to Bucharest and other cities. In the capital, the uprising that led to the fall of the communist regime broke out on December 21, with a large rally organized by Nicolae Ceauşescu, in the hope that he would be able to calm the population and remain at the helm of the country. After the failed rally, the revolt extended across Bucharest. Demonstrations against the regime took place, to which the law enforcement forces responded also by shooting at the demonstrators, killing around 50 people, injuring several dozen and arresting more than 1,000 people. Despite the reprisals, the demonstrations resumed on December 22, and the street pressure made the former dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu flee in a helicopter from the roof of the former Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party. All in all, more than 1,000 people died and around 3,000 were injured in the fighting that took place in the only country in Eastern Europe where the regime change included a bloodshed.

Visit of the President of the European Parliament to Bucharest

‘There is no justifiable reason not to welcome Romania and Bulgaria into the Schengen area, because all the conditions for accession are met the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola said, on Monday, in Bucharest. In a press conference with President Klaus Iohannis, she also stated that efforts were being made for this situation to be solved as soon as possible, even next year. ‘The external border of the European Union is defended. We see that all countries, including Romania, apply all components of the Schengen acquis, which answers any concern that might exist from this point of view, the Brussels official added. In turn, the Romanian head of state stated that the Schengen topic would not be on the agenda of the extraordinary European Council due in February 2023, and the discussions were to take place only on the sidelines of the meeting. We remind you that, at the beginning of the month, Romania’s admission to Schengen was blocked by Austria in the Justice and Home Affairs Council, which invoked issues regarding illegal migration. Documents provided by Frontex – the European Border Police and Coast Guard Agency – contradict the Austrian Chancellor’s statements.

Romanian delegation in South Korea

A Romanian official delegation, which included several ministers, as well as the Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă and the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Marcel Ciolacu, visited South Korea this week. Romania is interested in the development of major economic projects alongside the big Korean companies, in essential fields such as: transport, energy, defense, the IT industry, ITNs and semiconductors. Defense and energy industries dominated the talks with the South Korean officials, including the Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. They also approached such issues as how to manage the situation generated by the Russian aggression in Ukraine, security in the region and cooperation between NATO and South Korea. The Romanian delegation also had a meeting with the representatives of the Romanian community, to whom the Prime Minister conveyed his appreciation for the way in which they managed to integrate into that society, keeping, at the same time, the identity, language, culture and values of their native country close to their hearts.

The Romanian FM Bogdan Aurescu pays visit to Chisinau

Romania will continue to support the neighboring Republic of Moldova (with a majority Romanian-speaking population) in order to successfully overcome the crises which it is facing, the Romanian FM Bogdan Aurescu reiterated, on Monday, in Chisinau. The Romanian official had meetings with the president Maia Sandu, the prime minister Natalia Gavrilița, with his counterpart Nicu Popescu and with the president of the Parliament, Igor Grosu. The two sides emphasized the importance of developing electricity interconnections between the two states, of streamlining cross-border traffic, including through the construction of bridges over the Prut River. They also discussed the implementation of the agreement regarding the non-refundable financial assistance worth 100 million Euros Bucharest offered to Chisinau, as well as about the operationalization of the support platform for the Republic of Moldova, initiated by Minister Aurescu with his German and French counterparts. The European path of the Republic of Moldova and Romania’s concrete support for achieving this goal, including through the opening of EU accession negotiations, were also on the agenda.

High-level Romanian-Portuguese talks

The presence of the Portuguese soldiers from the South-East Multinational Brigade in Caracal (south), together with soldiers from North Macedonia and other allies, has an important contribution to strengthening Romania’s defense and security, said President Klaus Iohannis on the occasion of his visit to the ‘Olt Training Battalion 1, in Caracal, on Tuesday, where he was accompanied by his Portuguese counterpart, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. The high-level discussions focused on the security situation in Ukraine, with an emphasis on the intensification of humanitarian assistance to the neighboring country, as well as on support in facilitating grain exports. The two presidents also discussed the intensification of Romanian-Portuguese cooperation in the fields of defense, economy, trade, the digital agenda, renewable energy sources, health and education. (LS)

24 December 2022
December 19, 2022

SCHENGEN The president of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola is
on a 2-day working visit to Bucharest as of today, with a support message for Romania’s
Schengen accession efforts. Today, Roberta Metsola is scheduled to have
meetings with president Klaus Iohannis, PM Nicolae Ciucă and the speakers of
the Chamber of Deputies and Senate, Marcel Ciolacu and Alina Gorghiu, and will
address a joint Parliament meeting. On Tuesday, Roberta Metsola will have talks
with young Romanians as part of an event called ‘Together we are Europe,’
organised by the European Parliament Office in Romania in a partnership with
the Law School of the University of Bucharest. According to the institution, during
their dialogue with Metsola the young participants will be able to find out
about the benefits of the European parliamentary democracy, ways to influence
European policies, why it is important for them to get involved in protecting
European democracy and how the decisions and policies of the European
Parliament impact Europeans’ day-to-day lives.

VISIT The Romanian foreign minister, Bogdan Aurescu, is on a 2-day
official visit to Chişinău, at the invitation of Moldova’s deputy PM and
minister for foreign affairs and European integration, Nicu Popescu. For 2 days,
Bogdan Aurescu will have consultations with his counterpart, will be received
by the president of the R. of Moldova Maia Sandu, and will have talks with PM Natalia
Gavriliţa and with the parliament speaker Igor Grosu. They will discuss aspects
related to countering the war of aggression waged by the Russian Federation
against Ukraine, as well as topics related to cooperation in the field of
energy security, stepping up sectoral cooperation, economic cooperation and the
assistance measures taken by Romania to the benefit of the R. of Moldova. A
major topic for discussion will be Moldova’s progress in its EU accession
efforts, after the country was granted the accession candidate status in June
2022, and Romania’s concrete support in this respect.

ENERGY EU energy ministers convene today in Brussels in an attempt
to reach an agreement on a natural gas price cap, in the context of the rise in
energy prices triggered by the war in Ukraine. Last week, they failed to reach
consensus on this topic. The participants will also try to come up with a
general approach on a proposed reduction of methane emissions in the energy
sector. The draft regulation requires oil, natural gas and coal operators to
measure, report and check methane emissions. Moreover, the EU energy ministers
will try to reach an agreement with respect to the proposed REPowerEU directive,
which modifies the EU legislation on renewable energy, energy efficiency and
the energy performance of buildings. The proposal aims to step up the use of
renewable energy. On the other hand, the Czech presidency of the EU Council
will present a report on the progress made with respect to the natural gas
package, which includes a proposed directive and a proposed regulation on
single market norms for gas from renewable sources, natural gas and hydrogen.

COMMEMORATION In Timişoara, western
Romania, events carry on marking 33 years since the anti-communist revolution
of December 1989. The events highlight the courage and sacrifice of the
Revolution heroes, and the need for the younger generations to carry on the
spirit of freedom. After the marches, religious services, exhibitions, film
screenings and roundtables organised in the previous days, today a pilgrimage
will be held at the monuments making up the Revolution Memorial. Short reels made
by young artists will also be screened in schools, and the traditional Rockford
revolution festival is also scheduled for today. Also today, the members of
the bereaved families are leaving for Bucharest to retrace the route on which
the bodies of 43 revolution participants from Timisoara were sent for
incineration. The events devoted to the 33 years since the Revolution will
culminate on Tuesday, December 20, Victory Day, when Timişoara was declared the
first city free of communism in Romania. The uprising against the communist
regime in Romania began in Timişoara on December 16, 1989 and spread to
Bucharest and other cities in the country. Over 1,000 people died and some
3,000 were wounded in the clashes that took place on that occasion.

FOOTBALL Argentina is the world’s new football champion. In the
final of the Qatar tournament on Sunday, Argentina defeated the previous
champions, France, after penalty shootouts. This is the 3rd world
championship won by the South Americans, after the title in 1978 and the one in
1986. The next world championship, held in 2026, will be hosted jointly by the
US, Canada and Mexico. (AMP)

19 December 2022
Debates on Schengen in the EP

Romania and Bulgaria are ready to be accepted in the Free Travel Area, the EU has the legal obligation to ensure this, and the two countries legitimately expect to join, said Tuesday the European Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson in the plenary session of the European Parliament, in Strasbourg, where a debate took place on this topic. The European Commission believes that the authorities from Bucharest and Sofia have met all the accession criteria and have been waiting for this moment for over a decade. Ylva Johansson has emphasized that the two states are fulfilling a huge task and have received more than a hundred thousand Ukrainians who took refuge because of the war.

The European Commissioner emphasized that the Schengen Area also needs Romania and Bulgaria, to face the challenges regarding migration and security. ‘We have to fight organized crime, we have to support the cross-border cooperation of the police forces, and the accession of the two countries would facilitate the exchange of information between the border guards and the police’ Ylva Johansson also said.

The European official has promised that her main priority remains the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area, stating that she is determined to achieve this next year. During the debate in the European Parliament, Romanian MEPs joined hands in condemning Austrias veto and in asking for solutions to unblock Romanias accession to Schengen, including discussing the problem in the European Council or referring it to the EU Court of Justice.

Last week, within the Council for Justice and Home Affairs (JHA), a unanimous decision failed to be adopted in relation to the accession to the Schengen area of the two countries that became EU member countries in 2007, after Austria and the Netherlands opposed.

The Austrian chancellor, Karl Nehammer, motivated this position by mentioning the illegal migrants who arrived in his country, many of whom, according to him, supposedly have come through Romania and Bulgaria.

In turn, the Netherlands says that it supports Romanias accession, but not together with Bulgaria. At the same time, Croatia, a member of the EU since 2013, has received the green light to join Schengen from January 1, 2023. The Romanian president, Klaus Iohannis, said that this negative vote was undeserved and incomprehensible. In his opinion, steps must be taken through all diplomatic channels to achieve the goal of joining the free travel area.

On Thursday, at the European Council meeting, he intends to put this extremely important topic for Romania on the agenda, although a new vote can only be cast in the future JHA Council in March 2023. President Iohannis has also said that he is going to present two-three actions that he intends to initiate, so that Romania could make progress towards joining the Schengen Area. (LS)

14 December 2022
December 13, 2022

Budget — The Romanian Parliament has today resumed debates on the state budget in the committees, and the debate on the state insurance budget for 2023 is also scheduled. Yesterday, after a day of marathon debates, a large part of the budget allocations at the proposed level were approved by the government. Among others, the Ministry of Transport, the Presidential Administration, the Chamber of Deputies, the Senate, The Intelligence Service – SRI, the Foreign Intelligence Service- SIE and the Protection and Guard Service – SPP received approval. Defense will benefit from record sums, 2.5% of the GDP, which will allow the continuation of the programs to equip the Army with Patriot and HIMARS systems. The government estimates that the Gross Domestic Product will increase next year by almost 3%, to over 1,550 billion lei, although economic growth will slow down. However, they count on a better collection of taxes, on the decrease of inflation and unemployment. So the deficit should also decrease to 4.4 % of the GDP.

Schengen – The European Parliament will debate, today, the situation created by the vote against Romanias accession to the Schengen area given by Austria in the JHA Council, a topic added to the agenda on Monday by the vote of the largest political groups in the EP. On Monday, the Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu met in Brussels with Austria’s Federal Minister for European and International Affairs, Alexander Schallenberg, at the request of the Austrian side. On the occasion, minister Aurescu stated that Bucharest would use all available ways to unblock the situation and added that it was necessary to find a constructive solution. The Romanian minister showed, once again, that the information from the Austrian side regarding a possible involvement of Romania in the flow of illegal migration to Austria did not correspond in any way to the statistics compiled by the European agencies dealing with the borders. The Austrian side mentioned that it approved the work plan proposed by the European Commission regarding the management of migration, which it considers a first step. In Bucharest, President Klaus Iohannis stated, on Monday evening, during his first public appearance after Romania was denied Schengen accession, that the negative vote given by Vienna was undeserved and incomprehensible.

Conference – In Paris, today, two events are taking place in support of Ukraine: an international conference with the participation of official representatives from Kyiv and friendly countries and an economic forum of French companies that want to get involved in the reconstruction of Ukraine. The two conferences, organized at the initiative of President Emmanuel Macron, have distinct objectives. The first, entitled “Solidarity with the Ukrainian people”, wants to respond to the urgent needs of the population this winter: restoring electricity, heat and water supply, food supply and access to health care, after much of the civil infrastructure of the country was destroyed or heavily damaged by the Russian bombings. Officials from 50 countries, as well as the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, have confirmed their presence. Ukraine will be represented by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will via video connection. The second conference will bring together the heads of nearly five hundred French companies interested in investing in the long term and contributing to the reconstruction of Ukraine after the end of the war.

Survey – Romanians currently have three main reasons for concern – inflation, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the cost of medical services – according to a survey conducted last month by a management consulting company. In addition, most Romanians expect the prices of basic products to increase throughout the next year. Compared to other European countries, only the British are more worried than the Romanians about the price increases. The citizens of Italy, Spain, France and Germany are less worried about this aspect, the survey shows.

Football – The first semi-final at the World Cup in Qatar will be played this evening by Argentina and Croatia. The French national team, the defending world champion, will face the Moroccan team in the semifinals of the World Cup 2022, on Wednesday, at the Al Bayt stadium in Al Khor.

Meeting – The President of the Swiss Confederation, Ignazio Cassis, declared in Bucharest that Romania must be part of the Schengen Area, but he also mentioned that Austria is subject to great migratory pressures, which affects the citizens of this country. This migratory pressure does not occur because of Romania, however, the Swiss official stated, during a press conference held alongside the president Klaus Iohannis. The evolution of the war in Ukraine, humanitarian aid measures for the Ukrainian population and refugees, the consequence of the conflict in terms of energy, as well as in terms of global food security, were on the agenda of the discussions between the two officials. Switzerland calls for strict compliance with the Geneva Convention and supports the efforts of the international community to document and punish war crimes, Ignazio Cassis emphasized on this occasion. Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă also had a meeting with the president of the Swiss Confederation, together with whom he evaluated the security situation on the eastern front, the support for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, the economic cooperation with an emphasis on stimulating investments and identifying new areas of collaboration. Nicolae Ciucă conveyed congratulations to the Swiss official and assured him of Romanias support for the Swiss Confederation when it will first hold the mandate of non-permanent member in the UN Security Council for the period 2023-2024. The Romanian-Swiss Framework Agreement was also signed in Bucharest, which will operationalize the second Swiss financial contribution to reduce economic and social disparities in the EU. President Ignazio Cassis was also the guest of Her Majesty Margareta, Custodian of the Romanian Crown. The visit was attended by representatives of the federal authorities from Bern and the Swiss ambassador, HE Mr. Arthur Mattli. After the meeting of her Majesty Margareta and the Prince Consort with President Ignazio Cassis, the distinguished guest signed the Golden Book of the Elisabeta Palace, opened in 1937.

Boycott – The companies subordinated to the Romanian Transport Ministry announced their intention to move their money from the accounts at BCR, owned by the Austrian group Erste. Minister Sorin Gindeanu claims that the numerous companies under his command have found better conditions at CEC Bank. The start was given by the National Road Infrastructure Administration Company, which had account activity at BCR worth at least 12 billion lei (the equivalent of about 2.5 billion Euros) annually. Other companies, such as the Romanian Railways, the Port of Constanţa (south-east, on the Black Sea) or the Bucharest Airport Company will do the same. “I think its a good move, with better conditions,” Grindeanu said, adding that he doesnt have accounts in Austrian banks. After Austria opposed Romanias accession to the Schengen Area, the National Federation of Trade Unions in the Food Industry, Sindalimenta, also decided to close the bank account at BCR. Farmers, unions and businessmen have announced that they will boycott Austrian companies, including OMV Petrom gas stations. (LS)

13 December 2022
Nachrichten 12.12.2022

In Bukarest hat die USR (Opposition) in der Abgeordnetenkammer einen einfachen Antrag gegen den Innenminister Lucian Bode eingereicht. Die Partei wirft Bode die gescheiterte Aufnahme Rumäniens in den Schengen-Raum vor. Nach Ansicht der USR sei der Minister gemeinsam mit Präsident Klaus Iohannis, den Vertretern der Parlamentsmehrheit und der Diplomatie in Bukarest verantwortlich. Die USR forderte auch Außenminister Bogdan Aurescu auf, an der Regierungsstunde im Parlament teilzunehmen, um die Situation zu erklären. Indes hat der Innenminister einen offenen Brief an seinen österreichischen Amtskollegen Gerhard Karner geschickt, in dem er seine tiefe Empörung über das österreichische Votum gegen den Schengen-Beitritt Rumäniens in der vergangenen Woche ausdrückt.

Nachdem Österreich den Beitritt abgelehnt hatte, kündigten Landwirte, Gewerkschaften und Geschäftsleute in Rumänien an, österreichische Unternehmen, einschließlich Tankstellen, zu boykottieren. Bundeskanzler Karl Nehammer sagte im öffentlich-rechtlichen Fernsehen in Wien, er sei überzeugt, dass das österreichische Veto im JI-Rat keine Konsequenzen für österreichische Unternehmen haben werde. Dabei handele es sich um zwei getrennte Fragen, nämlich um die Sicherheits- und die wirtschaftspolitische Dimension. Mehrere europäische Länder haben ihre große Enttäuschung über das Votum gegen den Beitritt Rumäniens und Bulgariens zur Freizügigkeitszone zum Ausdruck gebracht. Darüber hinaus erklärte die EU-Kommissarin für Inneres, Ylva Johansson, dass sie den Beitritt der beiden Länder zum Schengener Abkommen zu einer Priorität ihres Mandats machen werde.

In Bukarest haben die Fachausschüsse des Parlaments am Montag die ersten Stellungnahmen zu den Haushaltsentwürfen mehrerer Institutionen und Ministerien abgegeben. Die Geschäftsbereiche Bildung, Verkehr, Entwicklung und Verteidigung werden im nächsten Jahr mehr Mittel erhalten. Bereiche wie Energie, Justiz oder Gesundheit werden dafür im Jahr 2023 weniger Geld erhalten, hoffen aber auf zusätzliche Mittel bei künftigen Haushaltskorrekturen. Die Koalitionsparteien PSD, PNL und UDMR erklären, dass der Entwurf des Staatshaushalts für das kommende Jahr auf einem ihrer Meinung nach historischen Investitionsvolumen von 7,2% des BIP aufbaut. Der Entwurf ist auf ein Wirtschaftswachstum von 2,8% des BIP, eine jährliche Inflationsrate von 8%, eine steigende Zahl von Beschäftigten und eine auf 2,7% sinkende Arbeitslosenquote ausgelegt. Die Opposition kritisiert den Haushaltsentwurf. Laut der ökoliberalen USR seien die Prognosen der Regierung viel zu optimistisch und enthielten künstlich überhöhte Beträge. Die populistische AUR ist auch unzufrieden über die Unterfinanzierung einiger Ministerien. Sowohl die Regierung als auch die Opposition haben Änderungsanträge eingebracht. Die Schlussabstimmung über den Entwurf des Staatshaushalts und des Sozialversicherungsgesetzes ist für Donnerstag vorgesehen.

Der rumänische Justizminister Cătălin Predoiu ist am Montag in Luxemburg mit der Generalstaatsanwältin der Europäischen Staatsanwaltschaft (EPPO), Laura Codruța Kovesi, zusammengekommen. Laut einer Erklärung des Ministeriums in Bukarest sprachen die beiden Beamten über den Schutz der finanziellen Interessen der Europäischen Union, die Frage der EPPO-Personalressourcen und die Ausweitung ihrer Befugnisse auf Verstöße gegen EU-Sanktionen: Er sei überzeugt, dass der Dialog mit der EPPO Ideen und Lösungen hervorbringen kann“, auch für die Straffung der Zusammenarbeit zwischen nationalen Staatsanwälten und EPPO-Staatsanwälten. Sie hätten schließlich einen gemeinsamen Kampf gegen die Kriminalität, der sowohl die Interessen der EU als auch die nationalen Interessen der Mitgliedstaaten berühre“, sagte Catalin Predoiu.

Die Präsidentin des Europäischen Parlaments, Roberta Metsola, hat sich am Montag empört und traurig“ über den Korruptionsskandal im Europäischen Parlament erklärt. Die europäische Demokratie werde angegriffen, sagte sie. Auch die Präsidentin der Europäischen Kommission, Ursula Von der Leyen, forderte am Montag, dass die europäischen Institutionen mit hohen Standards der Unabhängigkeit und Integrität“ geführt werden. Der Hohe Vertreter der EU für auswärtige Angelegenheiten, Josep Borrell, bezeichnete die Tatsache, dass mehrere Personen, die mit dem Europäischen Parlament in Verbindung stehen, in Belgien angeklagt wurden, als äußerst besorgniserregend“. Die griechische Vizepräsidentin des Europäischen Parlaments, Eva Kaili, und drei weitere Personen waren in Belgien im Rahmen von Ermittlungen wegen Korruptionsverdachts im Zusammenhang mit dem Katar angeklagt und inhaftiert worden. Gegen die vier wurde Anklage wegen Mitgliedschaft in einer kriminellen Vereinigung, Geldwäsche und Korruption erhoben. In der Wohnung von Eva Kaili wurden bei den Durchsuchungen nach Angaben aus Justizkreisen angeblich Taschen voller Geld“ gefunden.

12 December 2022
December 11, 2022 UPDATE

Budget — The state budget and social insurance draft laws will be debated in Romania’s Parliament on Monday. The final vote is to be given in the plenary sessions of the two chambers on Thursday. The state budget for next year is based on an economic growth of 2.8% and a revenue increase of 14%. The budget deficit is forecast to increase by almost 4.4% of the GDP, and the main novelty is the increase to 2.5% of the Defense budget. The state budget for next year will allow, according to the authorities, an increase in pensions by 12.5% and a minimum wage of 3,000 lei (about 600 Euros). According to the document, the Ministries of Defense, Development, Agriculture, Transport and Education will receive more funds. The fields of Energy, Justice and Health will receive less money. The opposition criticizes the Governments budget bill and announces that it will submit amendments in Parliament.

Visit — The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis will receive, on Monday, in Bucharest, the president of the Swiss Confederation, Ignazio Cassis. The two will discuss the bilateral relationship and economic cooperation, with an emphasis on stimulating investments and identifying new areas of collaboration. At the same time, they will also exchange views on current topics on the international agenda, including the developments in Ukraine, humanitarian aid measures for the Ukrainian population and refugees, the consequences of the conflict in terms of energy, as well as in terms of global food security. Romanian-Swiss multilateral cooperation is also on the agenda of the discussions, including from the perspective of Switzerlands future mandate as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, which it will exercise in the period 2023-2024. On the other hand, the signing ceremony of the Romanian-Swiss Framework Agreement will take place, through which the second Swiss financial contribution to reduce economic and social disparities in the EU will be operationalized. President Ignazio Cassis also has a scheduled meeting with the Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă and will also be received by Her Majesty Margareta, the Custodian of the Romanian Crown.

Meeting — The Romanian Agriculture Minister, Petre Daea, is participating, on Sunday and Monday, in the meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council (AGRIFISH) in Brussels. According to an agriculture ministry communiqué, the meetings agenda includes important aspects for the Romanian agricultural sector, such as the market situation, the strategic plans of the CAP, animal welfare and fishing opportunities for next year. The ministers are discussing the progress of the new EU forest strategy for 2030 and the actions taken at EU and national level. At the same time, the ministers will debate the current situation of the market in the member states, the main issues related to the energy and fertilizer crisis, the high prices of production factors, as well as the pressure that the crisis exerts on both farmers and consumers. Also, the European officials will tackle the strategic plans included in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the context of the current situation in Ukraine and the new challenges facing both the agriculture and fisheries sectors.

Agreement — The EU member states reached an agreement, on Saturday, regarding the unlocking of a financial assistance package worth 18 billion Euros, which will be granted to Ukraine in 2023. ‘Ukraine can count on the EU. We will continue to support Ukraine also from a financial point of view, as long as it is necessary’ shows a press release from the European Council. The proposal was adopted by the Council and will be presented to the European Parliament to be adopted next week. On Tuesday, Hungary vetoed the package proposed by the European Commission.

Handball — Romania’s handball champions Rapid Bucharest scored a prestigious victory in the Champions League in womens handball, 30-27 against the multiple champion Gyori Audi ETO KC (Hungary), on Sunday, at home, in a Group B match. After this victory, the Romanian handballers have reached 12 points in the group, as many as Gyori and Esbjerg (Denmark) and one below Metz (France). In the last match of this year, Rapid will meet, away from home, Storhamar (Norway), on December 17. The first two teams in the group go directly to the quarter finals, and the next 4 to the play-offs.

Corruption – The Greek vice-president of the European Parliament, Eva Kaili, and three other people were indicted and imprisoned, on Sunday, in Belgium, in an investigation regarding suspicions of corruption in connection with Qatar. The four were accused of belonging to a criminal organization, money laundering and corruption. Eva Kaili could not benefit from her parliamentary immunity because she was caught in the act of committing the offence she is accused of was on Friday. According to the Federal Prosecutors Office, they suspect the payment of significant sums of money or the offering of significant gifts to third parties in a political and/or strategic position that allows them, within the European Parliament, to influence the decisions of this institution. On Saturday, the president of the European Parliament, the Maltese Roberta Metsola, decided on a first sanction against Eva Kaila. The Greek vice-president was left without all delegated responsibilities, including that of representative for the Middle East region. Left-wing MEPs and environmentalists demanded the resignation of Eva Kaili, who was also excluded from the Greek Socialist Party.

11 December 2022
May 5, 2022 UPDATE

Conference — Thursday’s international donors conference held in Warsaw to raise funds to help Ukraine managed to gather more than 6 billion Euros, the Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said. The online event was also attended by the Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca, who presented a new humanitarian assistance package of Romania worth 3.2 million Euros. Nicolae Ciuca reiterated Bucharests multidimensional support for Kyiv: political and diplomatic, humanitarian and refugee assistance, and economic. Nicolae Ciuca said that Romania was ready to participate in the reconstruction process of Ukraine and reiterated his support for the European path of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia. More than 8,000 Ukrainian citizens entered neighboring Romania on Wednesday. Almost 860,000 Ukrainians have crossed the Romanian border since the invasion of Russian troops, most of them transiting to other countries.

Ukraine — The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday announced the launch of an online crowdfunding platform to help his country fight Russian invaders and rebuild the country’s infrastructure. The platform is called United24, and all funds will be transferred to the National Bank of Ukraine and allocated to the relevant ministries. Zelenski promised that reports on the distribution of donations would be published every 24 hours. “Only together can we stop the war that Russia has started and rebuild what Russia has destroyed. Together we can help freedom overcome tyranny,” Volodymyr Zelensky said. Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said that its army had simulated a nuclear missile launch in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, located between Poland and Lithuania, both members of the European Union and NATO. According to the source, the combat units also carried out “operations in conditions of radiation and chemical contamination”. Russia has placed its nuclear forces on high alert shortly after invading Ukraine on February 24.

EP — The European Parliament on Thursday approved a resolution calling that the Republic of Moldova should receive the status of a candidate country for EU accession. According to Radio Chisinau, the MEPs appreciated the efforts made by the authorities, and also by Moldovan citizens, while emphasizing the risks which Moldova is running due to the war in Ukraine. The Commission is invited to rapidly complete its assessment and to provide full assistance to Chisinau during the accession process. The European Parliament also calls for a clear and strong political signal to be given at the European Council meeting due in June in relation to the European path chosen by the Republic of Moldova. The European Union has a duty to support the Republic of Moldova, the European Council President Charles Michel said in Chisinau on Wednesday. He said that Brussels was considering additional military support for the Moldovan authorities, which will add to the assistance in the areas of logistics and cyber defense which the Union has already agreed on. At the US State Department, spokesman Ned Price reassured Moldova, a neighbor of Romania and Ukraine, that the US is firm in relation to its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

Sanctions – The sixth package of European sanctions against Russia targets senior officials and the military, the banking sector, the media and, for the first time, imposes an embargo on oil imports. The European Commission President Ursula von der Lyen has warned that it will not be easy for Europe without Russian oil, especially as some member states are 100% dependent. Therefore, the package includes exceptions and transitional measures for these countries.

Meeting — The Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu received Garry Kasparov, president of the Human Rights Foundation, a former world chess champion and human rights activist in Bucharest on Thursday. According to a Romanian Foreign Ministry communiqué, the talks took place “in the context of Russias military aggression and illegal, unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine and of the need to counteract the invasion’s profoundly negative effects at the security, economic and humanitarian levels”. Minister Bogdan Aurescu has once again condemned, “in the strongest terms”, the war of aggression waged by Russia against Ukraine and made a presentation of the humanitarian support provided by Bucharest to the neighboring state and to the Ukrainian refugees in Romania. In turn, Garry Kasparov presented a series of assessments of Russias internal situation and possible developments in the war started by Moscow war. He highlighted the need to strengthen support for Ukraine by the entire international community in order to resist aggression. (LS)

5 May 2022
Energy prices, a postponed solution

Record electricity prices continue to be reported in Europe, and both the domestic and industrial consumers fear that, in the coming winter, they might have to pay huge bills — if they can afford. That is why the Community institutions are trying to reach a common solution for all the EU member states, which is not at all simple, as always happens when extremely sensitive issues are at stake. Gathered in Slovenia for an informal Council meeting, the European leaders have failed to agree on a response to the accelerating price rise. France and Spain, for instance, are calling for an in-depth reform, Romania wants an urgent solution, while other states are calling for patience.

Attending the meeting, the Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said: ʺWe had a first discussion about energy prices, especially electricity prices, and we agreed to speed up all efforts. The Commission has promised, and we expect it to respect its promise, to come with an approach, with solutions in one week at the most, because we cannot go through the winter season with rising prices.”

The energy price hike was also tackled in the European Parliament, where the representatives of the European Commission and the European Council were heard. Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson of Estonia provided the solution that by 2030, in Europe, 65% of electricity production should come from renewable sources. But what will people do until then? MEPs have accused that the measures to eliminate fossil fuels did not take into account the fact that there are insufficient renewable sources, that nuclear energy has been marginalized and that Europe is blackmailed by Russia in relation to energy. Almost all political groups in the EP have called for a single European energy market and the purchase of gas through a common scheme. There was also the opinion that prices should be capped.

MEPs also called for harsh measures against energy suppliers’ speculation. In Romania, the huge rise in electricity and gas prices coincided with the complete liberalization, from July 1, of the energy market and many companies took advantage of the situation. Heard in the parliamentary commission that investigates the causes of very high prices, the president of the National Authority for Consumer Protection, Claudiu Dolot, said that, in September, more than 30 companies broke the law, registering the worst irregularities regarding non-compliance with contractual clauses. (LS)

7 October 2021
EU Funding and the Rule of Law

On Wednesday, the European Parliament voted a resolution that includes proposals for a mechanism aimed at protecting and strengthening democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights. The reason is simple: the current control mechanisms used to monitor the health of democracy in the EU are no longer effective, because they are not binding enough when the governments fail to observe the rules. In the resolution, the European Parliament reaffirms its worries in relation to what it describes as “the rise and entrenchment of autocratic and illiberal tendencies, further compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic and economic recession, as well as corruption, disinformation and state capture, in several Member States.”

The document also reads that the EU remains structurally ill-equipped to tackle an ongoing and unprecedented crisis of its fundamental laws, giving as an example the Councils failure to make meaningful progress in enforcing the procedures started against Hungary and Poland. That is why, the European Parliament believes, specific country recommendations are needed for the initiation of the Mechanism on the protection of European values, infringement proceedings and conditions to access European funds.

Therefore, the EP proposes an Annual Monitoring Cycle, which will include preventive and corrective aspects, based on specific recommendations, with calendars and objectives for concrete measures, budget conditionalities and infringement proceedings. The proposals would strengthen and add to the existing mechanisms, such as the recent European Commission Report on the Rule of Law. Failure to settle the issues identified in this way might lead to specific corrective measures.

Basically, the European Parliament wants the states that do not observe the European values and the principles of a European type of liberalism to no longer have access to the funds of a community founded on the very principles that such states breach.

The European Parliament will only approve the 2021-2027 budget if there is a concrete conditionality mechanism that allows for a reduction or suspension of EU funding, when a member country does not respect the principles of the rule of law. Directly targeted by Union procedures for attempts to politically subordinate justice and public media, the conservative regimes in Hungary and Poland have threatened to block the future EU multiannual budget and the European post-pandemic recovery fund of 750 billion euros, if conditionalities on the rule of law will be introduced.

In the ex-communist East there is a temptation to reinterpret the rules for ones own benefit. Even though no infringement proceedings have been launched against them, Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia have been criticized for corruption and, in the case of the former left-wing government in Bucharest, pernicious changes to the laws of justice. (M. Ignatescu)

8 October 2020
EU Economic Recovery Plan

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused enormous loss at global level. In Europe, politicians have put heads together to find solutions to help the economy affected by this unprecedented situation. Therefore, the European Commission on Wednesday put forward its proposal for a major economic recovery plan to offset the effects of the new coronavirus crisis on the member countries’ economies. The money at stake totals 750 billion Euros, of which 500 billion as non-reimbursable aid and 250 billion as loans. Romania is to receive about 33 billion Euros.

This amount adds to a revised, long-term EU budget worth 1,100 billion Euros, said the president of the EC, Ursula von der Leyen, who pointed out that, all in all, the package of economic recovery initiatives stands at 2,400 billion Euros. The amount of 750 billion Euros proposed by the EC on Wednesday is to be borrowed by the EC from the financial markets, and distributed to the member states that were hardest hit by the pandemic in the form of grants and loans.

The additional funds will be channeled through the common budget programs and repaid over a long period of time throughout the future EU budgets, not before 2028 and not after 2058. To help do this in a fair and shared way, the EC has proposed a number of new own resources, such as a digital services tax or a carbon tax at Europe’s borders.

The plan, called Next Generation EU, is according to Ursula von der Leyen, an urgent and exceptional necessity for an urgent and exceptional crisis, and it will invest in the EU social fabric, protect the Single Market and help rebalance balance sheets across Europe. And while we are doing this, Ursula von der Leyen added, we need to press fast-forward towards a green, digital and resilient future.

The EU chief called on Europeans to ‘put old prejudices to one side’ and support the economic recovery plan. ‘The crisis we have to tackle is enormous but it is also huge opportunity for Europe, and it is a huge responsibility for us to do the right thing in this defining moment’ said Ursula von der Leyen in her speech at the European Parliament Plenary on the EU Recovery Package.

The leaders of the main political groups in the EP expressed contentment with the EC proposals. The People’s Movement Party and the Socialists have criticized Austria, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands for their reticence towards the EC plan and their opposition to grants, since these countries prefer supporting the EU economy only through loans, not also through subsidies. The EC plan will be on the agenda of the European summit scheduled for June 18th and 19th. (translation by Lacramioara Simion)

28 May 2020