Radio România Internațional

Tag: EP

  • Resolutions of the European Parliament

    Resolutions of the European Parliament

    Starting with the first session of 2020, the European Parliament adopted resolutions reflecting the EU’s stand on some very sensitive issues of the moment. The MEPs voted on the European Green Deal bill which had been previously presented by the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Strasbourg, the EP established that the future law on climate should be more ambitious than the proposals of the Commission regarding the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.



    The EP wants the Union to adopt these objectives much ahead of the UN conference on climate change that was scheduled for the autumn of 2020. Equally, the MEPs want to set out an intermediate target for 2040 and thus make sure that the EU is on the right track in terms of reaching climate neutrality in 2050.



    The EP resolution also asks for the creation of a Border Carbon Adjustment mechanism that should be compatible with the norms of the World Trade Organization. The MEPs warned that they would modify all legislative proposals with a view to complying with the green deal targets. They also talked about a project aimed at reforming the way in which the EU is functioning and at bringing it closer to the citizens’ expectations.



    The EP wants the citizens’ voices to be in the center of the large-scale discussions that will tackle the ways to approach internal and external challenges that were not addressed upon the conclusion of the Lisbon Treaty. The EP resolution shows that people from all walks of life, civil society representatives and interested parties at European, national, regional and local levels should get involved in establishing the priorities of the Union.



    The Vice-President of the European Commission for democracy and demography, Croat Dubravka Suica, admitted that the European Institutions did not always manage to translate the European citizens’ wishes into legislation. ‘The old way of doing politics no longer works. Citizens want us to hear them and we must listen to them and give them the feedback they need. Cooperation and courage are the new key words in this process. We must be brave and find new creative and innovative solutions to make our democracy work even better for the citizens” Vice-President Dubravka Suica said in a statement, adding that a joint declaration from the EP, the EC and the Council on this topic could pave the way for this unique partnership.



    The MEPs also debated the situation of the rights of the European citizens in Great Britain after Brexit. They say the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement includes fair and balanced provisions that will protect the citizens’ rights during and after the transition period. However, they drew attention to the problems existing in the new registration system of European citizens who want to apply for a new residence permit for the UK. (translation by L. Simion)

  • January 14, 2020

    January 14, 2020

    Law — The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday promulgated the law on doubling child allowances provided by the state. The amount of a child allowance is almost 63 Euros and 125 Euros for children with disabilities. The Romanian Chamber of Deputies adopted on December 18 the respective bill. The PM Ludovic Orban announced on January 10 that the government would postpone the coming into force of the law on doubling child allowances until it found the necessary financial resources. He pointed out that most probably the money will be allocated on the occasion of July’s budget adjustment.



    Parliament — The Romanian Parliament is determined to contribute, according to its constitutional prerogatives, to creating an adequate environment for business and investments, by increasing the predictability and transparency of fiscal legislation and by ensuring a stable and transparent legislative framework, that should benefit the national economy and the investors. The statement was made by the speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Marcel Ciolacu who met in Bucharest with the US ambassador to Romania Adrian Zuckerman. The latter has said the US is and will be Romania’s best friend in the region and will provide the necessary support for deepening the strategic partnership both at military level and at the level of economy and the rule of law, shows a communiqué of the Chamber of Deputies.



    Inflation — The annual inflation rate in Romania rose to 4% in December 2019 from 3.8% in November 2019, in the context in which the price of food and non-food products as well as of services increased, show the data published today by the National Institute of Statistics. The national bank of Romania has estimated downward to 3.8% from 4.2% the inflation rate for the year 2019 and estimates for the end of 2020 an inflation rate of 3.1%.



    Strasbourg — The EP is debating today in Strasbourg a resolution on the way in which the governments of the UK and the EU will manage citizens’ rights after Brexit. The resolution, which is to be voted in the plenum on Wednesday, approaches a wide range of issues which both the European citizens residing in Great Britain and the British citizens residing in the EU might face after Brexit. Also, the resolution draws attention to the fact that the Brexit deal includes fair and balanced provisions meant to protect the citizens’ rights during and after the transition period. In the same session the MEPs will debate alongside the EC the funding of the European Green Deal and the transition to climate neutrality. The plenum of the EP is today expecting the EC’s proposals regarding the principles and mechanism for a fair transition. On Wednesday the MEPs will vote a resolution, which will express the EP’s point of view.



    Tennis — The Romanian Simona Halep, world’s no.4 tennis player, on Tuesday defeated 6-4, 7-5 the Australian Ajla Tomljanovic (52 WTA) and qualified to the quarter finals of the Adelaide tournament in Australia. The tournament has prizes up for grabs worth 848 thousand dollars. In the quarter finals, the Romanian will play against Arina Sabalenka of Belarus and the American Bernarda Pera. This was Halep’s first singles match in 2020. In Adelaide she also played in the doubles alongside Romanian Raluca Olaru but the two lost to the pair Demi Schuurs (the Netherlands) / Kveta Peschke (the Czech Republic). (translation by L. Simion)

  • December 19, 2019 UPDATE

    December 19, 2019 UPDATE

    Activity report – Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis said Thursday evening upon the presentation of the activity report of his first mandate as head of state, that there were 5 years of major challenges of which the most serious was Romania’s risking to swerve off its western path. He went on to say that the biggest achievement of his mandate was to keep Romania on the democratic and pro-European path. In relation to foreign policy, Klaus Iohannis said his actions focused on 3 coordinates: boosting Romania’s role within the EU and NATO, expanding and strengthening the strategic partnership with the US. At domestic level he focused on the good functioning of public authorities. He reiterated that in the past 3 years some groups tried to get their hands on Romania and weaken it by attacking the justice system and he, as president of the country, used all constitutional instruments to counteract these undemocratic forces that tried to stop the anti-corruption fight. On Saturday President Klaus Iohannis will be sworn in for his second mandate before the two chambers of Romania’s Parliament.



    EP – President Klaus Iohannis hails the passing by the EP, on Thursday, of a Resolution on the commemoration of 30 years since the December 1989 anti-communist revolution, which pays homage to the heroes that died for freedom and democracy. Through this resolution the EP admits that the sacrifice of the then peaceful protesters opened the path for Romania’s transition to democracy. The document mentions that, in the Romanian Revolution, 1,142 people lost their lives, over 3,000 were seriously wounded and several hundreds were illegally arrested and tortured. The EP called on the Romanian state to intensify efforts to find the truth about the 1989 revolution and on the EU institutions and members, Romania included, to do their best to make sure that the crimes made by the Communist regimes will not be forgotten, and to thus guarantee that such crimes will never be committed again. In Romania, commemorations continued on Thursday to honor the heroes of the revolution. 30 years ago in Timisoara, in the west, the workers in the city’s factories went on strike and the first organization of revolutionaries the Romanian Democratic Forum was created before the fall of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. December 19 is also the day when the regime tried to hide the traces of the protesters’ bloody repression. In Sibiu, central Romania, military and religious ceremonies were held to commemorate the revolution’s martyrs.



    London — Queen Elisabeth II of Great Britain on Thursday presented in Parliament the legislative priorities of the government headed by Boris Johnson. Some of the measures announced are: the finalization of Brexit on January 31, 2020, bigger investments in healthcare, and the implementation of a new immigration system. The bill on Great Britain’s exit from the EU will be debated on Friday in the House of Commons. Another priority is the passing of an immigration system similar to the Australian one which is to be applied as soon as the post-Brexit transition period comes to an end and when the UK will no longer have to abide by the EU regulations, namely as of January 1, 2021. Through this system, Boris Johnson’s government wants to allow entry of foreign workers from the all over the world, not only from Europe, depending on the labor force needs of the British economy. (news update by L. Simion)

  • The Week in Review, 10-15 November 2019

    The Week in Review, 10-15 November 2019

    The right and left face each other in presidential runoff


    On Sunday, November 10, Romanians went to polls in the first round of the presidential election. Out of the 18.2 million voters, 51.19% showed up in polling stations and decided that facing each other in the second round, due on November 24, would be the Liberal candidate, the incumbent president Klaus Iohannis, who got 37.82% of the votes, and the ex-PM and Social Democrat leader Viorica Dancila, who got 22.26%. An outspoken opponent of the Social Democratic Party, which he blames for damaging reforms in the judiciary and economy, Klaus Iohannis warned that a victory is not yet certain, and urged people to come to polls in the runoff as well:



    Klaus Iohannis: “As for the runoff, I call all those who were with me in the street to defend the rule of law to come to polling stations so that your efforts may not be in vain! To those who want hospitals, schools, motorways, I tell you, come to polling stations to remove the Social Democrats from power completely, and to build all these things together! To those who no longer want to see their children and grandchildren leave the country, I tell you, come to polls, because now is the time to change things! And to the many people who are already away, I tell you, come to polls, because now you can make a difference!



    In turn, the Social Democrats chief voiced confidence in her victory:



    Viorica Dancila: “The votes cast today help us to carry on our campaign, a campaign in which we will tell Romanians both what we have achieved so far, and, more importantly, what we intend to do for them once we win the presidential election. Our fight is not against a political party, we dont try to dismantle a political party because democracy means that any party must be allowed to present its view. Our fight will be, as it has been so far, a fight for Romanians, for Romania, for balance and consensus, for unity, for a dignified representation of Romania both in the country and abroad.



    Whereas the turnout in the country in the first round was rather modest, the Romanians living abroad mobilized and went to polls in record numbers, reaching 675,000 people.




    Strategies for the second round of the presidential election


    Although the first day of the campaign for the presidential runoff is November 15, the competition between the 2 candidates started shortly after the first round and is already tougher than ever. The decision taken by President Klaus Iohannis and his campaign staff not to participate in any direct debate with Viorica Dancila is surprising for many people. On Tuesday, the President, who made no secret out of his goal to remove the Social Democrats from power, has written in a post that there can be no debate with a candidate of a party that ruled against the Romanians and which only goes through the motions of democracy. Dancila, who repeatedly asked for a debate ahead of the first election round, has reacted by saying that a debate would help her dismiss all “dirty accusations levelled against her and her party in the past few years. In a press conference on Wednesday, Klaus Iohannis pointed out:



    Klaus Iohannis: “Mrs. Dancila is the representative of an anti-democratic, unreformed party, which has governed against Romanians’ best interests. In the current election campaign, she pretends to be a democratic candidate, expecting due respect from everyone, as if she had been defending Romanian democracy and Romanians all along.



    Viorica Dancila was quick to retort:


    Viorica Dancila: “Mr. Iohannis speaks of a disastrous government. If disastrous government means increasing salaries and pensions, investing in local communities, making Romanian economy second at EU level in terms of growth, then the President is either dishonest or misinformed. Moreover, disastrous governing wouldn’t have been praised by Member States and third-party states for the good handling of the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.



    The campaign is due to conclude on Saturday, November 23, at 7.00 AM.




    Romanias nominee for Transport Commissioner, approved by the EP


    Adina Valean, designated by Romania for the post of European Commissioner for Transport, Thursday got the green light from the specialist committee in the European Parliament. Her priorities include an environment-friendly, fair and transparent transport network and fewer road accidents, in which respect Romania has the poorest figures in the EU. The president elect of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will present the full commission and its programme to the European Parliament on November 27.



    A new political crisis in the Republic of Moldova


    The Republic of Moldovas pro-Russian president Igor Dodon Wednesday entrusted one of his advisers, Ion Chicu, with the formation of a new government. The nomination comes after the Cabinet headed by the pro-European PM Maia Sandu was dismissed in a no-confidence vote initiated by Dodons Socialists, although they were part of the ruling coalition. On Thursday the new Cabinet was endorsed by the Moldovan Parliament and shortly after that they were sworn in.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • November 14, 2019

    November 14, 2019

    FINANCE For the past 3 years, Romanias economy has been managed according to 2 budgets, one presented in Parliament and for which no PM or finance minister in the former Social Democratic governments has taken responsibility, and another one containing accurate data and used for financing party barons, the new Finance Minister Florin Cîţu told a press conference on Thursday. The added he would notify the competent authorities. According to the minister, the budget deficit for the first 10 months of the year is 2.84% of the GDP, above the estimate for the entire year, and unless measures are taken in the next one and a half months the figure will exceed 4%. Some 500 million euros in the public pension budget is unaccounted for, Cîţu added, and explained that this years budget should be adjusted downwards.




    ORDER The Government of Romania passed an emergency order on the status of the British citizens living in Romania in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Romania was the only EU member state still to regulate the matter. The Prime Ministers chief of staff, Ionel Dancă, explained that the order was necessary and had been requested by the British side.




    COMMISSIONER The Romanian MEP Adina Vălean, nominated for the transport commissioner post, is heard today in the European Parliaments specialist committees, along with the commissioners nominated by France and Hungary. On Tuesday she was given the green light by the Committee on Legal Affairs, which looked at possible conflicts of interest. Also on Tuesday, Vălean was heard by the joint European affairs committees of the Romanian Parliament, whose opinion is advisory. When the formal hearings are over, the president elect of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will present the full commission and its programme to the European Parliament on the 27th of November.




    GROWTH Romanias GDP is up 4% in the first 9 months of this year, compared to the corresponding period of 2018, the National Statistics Institute announced. However, the economic growth rate slowed down in the 3rd quarter, to 3% as against 4.4% reported for the 2nd quarter. In its autumn economic forecast made public recently, the European Commission estimates a 4.1% economic growth rate for Romania in 2019, and expects the rate to drop to 3.6% in 2020 and 3.3% the following year.




    TRAVEL 230 operators from 16 countries are attending until Sunday the largest Tourism Fair in Romania, organised in Bucharest. Taking part are representatives of travel agencies, tour operators, and associations and local authorities promoting their regions. Visitors can purchase holiday packages for this winter and for 2020, with discounts of up to 45%.




    FOOTBALL Romanias Under 19 football team is playing today at home against Finland, in Group 8 of the 2021 UEFA European Under 19 Championship qualifiers. Denmark tops the group with 9 points, followed by Finland with 7 and Romania with 6 points. In the Euro 2020 qualifiers, Romanias senior team are facing Sweden at home on Friday. Group F is dominated by Spain with 20 points, who have already secured their qualification, followed by Sweden with 15 points and Romania with 14. To qualify, Romania need to defeat Sweden and draw against Spain away. The two best-placed sides in each group will qualify. The drawing of lots for Euro 2020 will take place in Bucharest on the 30th of November. The Romanian capital will also host four European Championship matches, three group matches and a quarterfinal.




    HANDBALL Romanias mens handball champions, Dinamo Bucharest, are undefeated in the Champions League, after a draw against the Swedish side IFK Kristianstad, 29-29, in Group D. Dinamo, already qualified into the play-offs, ranks first in the group with 13 points, followed by GOG Gudme (Denmark), with 9 points, Orlen Wisla Plock (Poland) with 7, Kadetten Schaffhausen (Switzerland), with 6, IFK Kristianstad (Sweden) with 5 and Cehovskie Medvedi (Russia) with 4 points. Dinamo is next to take on Cehovskie Medvedi at home on November 20.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • October 16, 2019 UPDATE

    October 16, 2019 UPDATE

    Turkey — The Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet Thursday with the American vice- president Mike Pence who is heading the US official delegation on a visit to Ankara, in an attempt to obtain a ceasefire in northern Syria, the Turkish presidential administration announced on Wednesday, according to France Press. Erdogan had previously announced that the American officials would only have talks with their Turkish counterparts. The Kremlin announced that the Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone with his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan about the Syrian conflict and invited him to visit Russia in the next few days. The two leaders underlined the need for preventing a conflict between the Turkish and Syrian units in northern Syria where Ankara started an offensive. The US announced the pullout of the 1,000 US soldiers still deployed in that area, but pointed out that it would keep the 150- strong Al-Tanf garrison at the border with Jordan. One week ago Ankara launched an offensive targeting the Kurdish militias People’s Protection Units YPG, an ally of the West in the anti-Jihadist fight.



    Strasbourg — The European Parliament on Wednesday postponed the vote for validating the future EC headed by Ursula von der Leyen. The vote had been scheduled initially for October 23 during next week’s plenary session of the EP in Strasbourg. The vote was postponed as the candidates for European Commissioner of Romania, Hungary and France were rejected during the validation process within the EP on grounds of conflict of interest or ethical problems. Ursula von der Leyen and her team were to start their mandate on November 1 but the rejection of the 3 candidates put it on hold.



    Exercise — The ‘Rear Admiral Horia Macellariu corvette is participating from October 15 to 17 in a drill in the Serpents’ Island area and in the Black Sea international waters together with the Pryluky missile carrier from Ukraine and the American destroyer USS ‘Porter’, the Romanian Navy Staff officials announced, adding that the 3- party exercise contributes to the consolidation of the partnership between Ukraine and the NATO member states in the naval forces domain. (update by L. Simion)

  • October 12, 2019 UPDATE

    October 12, 2019 UPDATE

    EC — The president of the European Parliament, the Italian David Sassoli, said Saturday that it would be probably impossible for the future European Commission to take on its prerogatives as of November 1 and that the takeover would be postponed for December 1. He explained that Romania, Hungary and France need to propose another 3 commissioners whose candidacies have to be analyzed by Parliament. The confirmation vote of the entire team made up of the German Ursula von der Leyen was scheduled for October 23 in the EP during a plenary session in Strasbourg. The candidates of Romania and Hungary were rejected by the Legal Affairs Committee JURI due to suspicions of possible conflicts of interest. France’s candidate also caused integrity-related suspicions in the context of investigations into alleged fictitious jobs when she served as an MEP.



    Election campaign — Saturday saw the start of the election campaign for the November presidential election in Romania. 14 candidates are running in the presidential race among whom the incumbent president Klaus Iohannis representing the National Liberal Party, the interim prime minister Viorica Dancila from the Social Democratic Party, Dan Barna representing the Alliance Save Romania Union-PLUS, Theodor Paleologu representing the People’s Movement Party, Mircea Diaconu, supported by the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats and Pro Romania party and or Kelemen Hunor from the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania. Running for the presidential seat and representing extra-parliamentary parties are Cătălin Ivan, Ninel Peia, Sebastian-Constantin Popescu, John-Ion Banu, Ramona-Ioana Bruynseels and Viorel Cataramă. Bogdan Stanoevici and Alexandru Cumpănaşu are running as independents. The first round will take place on November 10, and the second round will be held on November 24. Under a government decision, the Romanians abroad will vote in the first round of the election for 3 days, from November 8 to 10, and from November 22 to 24 in the second round.



    Handball – Romania’s national men’s handball team Dinamo Bucharest on Saturday defeated 30-20 (16-10), away from home, Russia’s team Cehovskie Medvedi in a Champions League Group D match. With two wins and a draw in the previous matches, Dinamo Bucharest accumulated 7 points and consolidated their position as group leaders. They managed to obtain 12 consecutive victories in all competitions. (update by L. Simion)

  • European Parliament Committees Reject Commission Candidates

    European Parliament Committees Reject Commission Candidates

    The incoming president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen is trying to form her team of commissioners, but the job seems more complicated than anticipated. In Brussels, the Polish and Swedish candidates, Janusz Wojckiechowski, proposed for Agriculture, and Ylva Johansson, proposed for Internal Affairs respectively, have been rejected after they were heard by Parliaments specialized committees. The MEPs from the agriculture and internal affairs committees will submit further questions for the two candidates, who could be heard by the committees once again.



    The Romanian MEPs too have complained about the two nominees. The Social Democrat Carmen Avram has stressed the fact that agriculture must be headed by a competent person:



    “For us, as Romanians, the vision of the new commissioner for agriculture was extremely important, but we heard nothing about that. That is why I agree that this candidate be heard again, because this is extremely important to Romania.”



    In turn, the MEP Sigfried Muresan, a member of the European Peoples Party group, has too voiced disappointment with the Polish candidate:



    “To farmers in Romania and for a robust common agricultural policy, a strong commissioner is an absolute necessity, and the candidate we saw yesterday was by no means prepared to manage this extremely important portfolio.”



    Also, Frances nominee for the EUs internal market, Sylvie Goulard, who is facing an inquiry by the European Anti-Fraud Office, failed to convince the European Peoples Party group, who requested additional clarification, in particular with respect to an alleged fictitious employment of one of her collaborators.



    Another two candidates had been rejected before: Romanias Rovana Plumb and Hungarys Laszlo Trocsanyi, proposed for transport and neighborhood and enlargement respectively. The two were rejected because of some conflicts of interests.



    The Romanian MEP Dan Nica, a former minister of communications, is the new proposal set forth by the Social Democratic Party to replace Rovana Plumb. The party also has a backup proposal, in case the European Commission wants a woman for this particular portfolio, namely Gabriela Ciot, who is currently a State Secretary with the Foreign Ministry.


  • July 16, 2019

    July 16, 2019

    The Romanian PM Viorica Dancila is presenting today before the European Parliament the main objectives, actions and results of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU, in the first half of 2019. Romanias term, the first since its accession to the EU in 2007, focused on cohesion and citizens and was appreciated as a successful one, thanks to the results obtained during that period, including the finalization of 90 legislative files and the organization of the summit in Sibiu, central Romania. Before presenting the report in the European Parliament, Viorica Dancila will have talks with the new president of the European Parliament, the Italian David Maria Sassoli.



    Ursula von der Leyen has pledged before the European Parliament to launch a green deal for Europe to curb climate change if she is voted President of the future European Commission. Before the voting, she told the European Commissioners she would like Europe to become the first carbon neutral continent by 2050. To reach that goal, Ursula von der Leyen has stated she will propose a sustainable investment plan and to turn parts of the European Investment Bank into a climate bank. Also, she has stated that if she is endorsed as president of the European Commission, she stands ready for a further extension of the UK withdrawal date, should more time be required for a good reason. Ursula von der Leyen is trying to get today the endorsement of the European Parliament to become the first woman president of the European Commission, and the second German to take this office since the setting up of the institution, back in 1957. Her term would start on November 1st.



    Alongside another 11 NATO member countries, Romania is taking part in the international military exercise Breeze 2019, unfolding until July 21st in the Black Sea, in the territorial waters of Bulgaria. Participating are some 2,000 military staff from Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Greece, France, Italy, Poland, Romania, the US and Turkey. The main objective of the exercise is to increase interoperability and interaction between the naval forces of the participating countries. A maritime security operation will be simulated during the exercise. There are 26 battle and auxiliary ships participating in the drills, as well as 10 planes and helicopters, the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 and the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group. Representatives of various institutions, NGOs and state-owned organisations are also participating in the exercise.



    The European Union has announced it will do whatever possible to salvage the nuclear agreement with Iran and has called on Teheran again to put an end to all uranium enrichment activities that run counter to the commitments assumed under the international agreement signed in Vienna, in 2015. Federica Mogherini, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has stated that Irans recent breaches of the nuclear deal are not significant and can be reversed, following Irans admission of surpassing the limit established under the international deal. The Spokesperson for Irans atomic energy agency has stated that Iran might revert to the situation before the signing of the agreement. Concluded between Teheran and P 5+1 (China, the US, France, Great Britain, Russia and Germany), after years of efforts, the deal provides for a limitation of the Iranian nuclear programme, in exchange for lifting international sanctions. After the US left the deal, last year, Iran has repeatedly threatened to do the same, unless its interests are guaranteed.



    The Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, no.4 in the WTA rankings, will present the Wimbledon trophy to the Romanian public on Wednesday, during an event organized by the Bucharest municipality on the National Arena. Halep is the first Romanian to have won the Wimbledon trophy after the two finals lost by Ilie Nastase back in 1972 and 1976, when he played against Stan Smith of the US and the Swedish Bjorn Borg respectively. Halep has confessed that her main objective in 2020 is to win a medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games, where she will represent Romania. Simona Halep will receive from the countrys president Klaus Iohannis the Order of the Star of Romania, Romanias highest civil order. (translated by M. Ignatescu)


  • Nachrichten 03.07.2019

    Nachrichten 03.07.2019

    Nach einer Entscheidung des rumänischen Verfassungsgerichts vom Mittwoch könnten mehrere erstinstanzliche Urteile in prominenten Korruptionsfällen aufgehoben und die Verfahren wieder aufgenommen werden. Das Gericht hatte Einwänden stattgegeben, denen nach erstinstanzliche Spruchkörper am OGH nicht rechtmä‎ßig gebildet wurden, da sie nicht auf die Bearbeitung von Korruptionsstraftaten spezalisiert waren. Die neuliche rechtskräftige Verurteilung von Ex-Psd-Chef Liviu Dragnea sei davon nicht betroffen, argumentierten Experten.



    Premierministerin Viorica Dăncilă hat einen Bericht über den rumänischen EU-Ratsvorsitz im ersten Halbjahr vorgelegt. Demnach sei die Präsidentschaft ein Erfolg gewesen; Rumänien habe zudem bewiesen, dass es den Werten des Europäischen Parlaments stark verbunden sei, indem es sich für die Konsolidierung des europäischen Projekts, für eine Union der Bürger, der Freiheiten, der gemeinsamen Anstrengungen und Fähigkeiten einsetzt. Rumänien habe seine Pflicht erfüllt und bewiesen, dass es ein verantwortungsbewusstes Mitglied der Union ist, das sich um die Weiterentwicklung der europäischen Agenda zum Wohle der Bürger kümmert, so Dăncilă.



    Das Plenum des Parlaments hat in Bukarest den neuen Verwaltungsrat der rumänischen Zentralbank bestätigt. Chef der Bank bleibt Mugur Isărescu, der seit 1990 mit einer kurzen Auszeit im Amt ist. Die Zentralbank werde weiterhin auf eine vorsichtige und verantwortungsbewusste Politik setzen und hat als langfristiges Ziel den Beitritt des Landes zur Eurozone, sagte Isărescu bei den Anhörungen am Dienstag. Der Verwaltungsrat der Zentralbank, die in Rumänien Nationalbank hei‎ßt, besteht aus neun Mitgliedern, die vom Parlament für jeweils fünf Jahre gewählt werden.



    Die Abgeordnetenkammer hat am Mitwoch eine Wahlgesetznovelle verabschiedet, die Verzögerungen und Schwierigkeiten bei der Abstimmung im Ausland vermeiden soll. Unter anderem ermöglicht das Gesetz rumänischen Bürgern im Ausland, bei den Präsidentschaftswahlen in diesem Jahr entweder per Brief oder im Laufe von drei Tagen in Wahllokalen abzustimmen. Am Sonntag besteht für Wahllokale im In- und Ausland die Möglichkeit, die Abstimmung bis Mitternacht zu verlängern, falls Bürger noch im Lokal auf ihre Stimmabgabe warten. Erste Umfragen zu den Ergebnissen dürfen erst am Sonntag nach Mitternacht veröffentlicht werden.




    Das Europäische Parlament hat am Mittwoch den italienischen Sozialisten David Sassoli zu seinem Präsidenten gewählt. Der 63jährige Ex-Journalist aus Florenz soll nach Vereinbarung der Staats- und Regierungschefs der EU sein Amt für zweieinhalb Jahre ausüben und dann von einem EVP-Politiker abgelöst werden. Die EU-Staaten haben am Dienstag die deutsche Verteidigungsministerin Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) als Präsidentin der Europäischen Kommission vorgeschlagen. Sie muss allerdings noch im Europäischen Parlament bestätigt werden. Für die nächsten fünf Jahre wird der spanische Au‎ßenminister Josep Borrell Hoher Vertreter für auswärtige Angelegenheiten und der belgische Premierminister Charles Michel der nächste Präsident des Europäischen Rates. Die Französin Christine Lagarde, bislang IWF-Chefin soll die Europäische Zentralbank übernehmen.




    Die moldauische Premierministerin Maia Sandu und der EU-Nachbarschaftskommissar Johannes Hahn haben am Mittwoch in Brüssel über die Konsolidierung des Dialogs auf höchster Ebene zwischen der Republik Moldau und der Europäischen Union diskutiert. Premierministerin Maia Sandu wies darauf hin, dass ihre Regierung die demokratischen Institutionen wieder aufbauen und das Vertrauen der Bürger in den Staat wiederherstellen wolle, indem sie die Missbräuche und Unregelmä‎ßigkeiten der früheren Regierung untersucht, eine auf Integrität und öffentlichem Vertrauen basierende Justiz schafft, Fachleute in Schlüsselpositionen einsetzt und die Bedingungen des EU-Assoziierungsabkommens erfüllt. Besprochen wurde auch die Zusammenarbeit im Bereich der EU-Unterstützung und die Möglichkeiten zur Stärkung der bilateralen Zusammenarbeit im Rahmen der Östlichen Partnerschaft. Kommissar Hahn begrü‎ßte die Bemühungen der moldauischen Regierung, die Reformen voranzutreiben, und erklärte, dass die EU die Entwicklungen in der Republik Moldau genau verfolgt.



    Beim rumänisch-rumänischen Duell in der zweiten Runde in Wimbledon hat sich Simona Halep gegen Mihalea Buzarnescu in 3 Sätzen (6-3, 4-6, 6-2) durchgesetzt. Halep und Monica Niculescu, die am Dienstag Andreea Petkovic aus Deutschland besiegte, sind als einzige rumänische Spielerinnen im Rennen geblieben.


  • June 29, 2019

    June 29, 2019

    PSD Congress — Over 4 thousand Social Democrats have gathered today for an extraordinary congress to elect their president, vice-president and secretary general. On Friday the PSD National Executive Committee validated the candidates running for the leading positions in the party. 4 Social Democrats are running for the president position, the incumbent PM Viorica Danciala, interim president of the PSD, running as favorite. The position became vacant one month ago when the party’s strongman Liviu Dragnea was sentenced and imprisoned for corruption.



    Festival – The European Film Festival is back to Sibiu (in central Romania) bringing 7 new films as well as a 1990s classic. The festival opened on Friday with the film ‘Lazar the Happy’ directed by Alice Rohrwacher winner of the best script award in 2018 at the Cannes Festival. Until Sunday when the festival ends, film lovers have the opportunity to also watch a romantic drama “Memoir of Pain” a French-Belgian coproduction directed by Emmnauel Finkiel, a political thriller “Power Games” by Rodrigo Sorogoyen, the comedy “Woman at war” by Benedikt Erlingsson, Bálint Kenyeres’ film “Yesterday”, “Son of Sophia” by Elina Psykou, “Julia” by Elena Martín and the classic “My Left foot” a 1989 production by Irish director Jim Sheridan. This year the European Film Festival has also been venued in Bucharest, Râmnicu Vâlcea (south), Târgu Mureș (center) and in Chisinau, the Republic of Moldova.



    Olympiad — Romania’s geography Olympic teams (juniors and seniors) have won 6 gold medals (4 for the juniors and 2 for the seniors) and 2 silver medals (for the seniors) at the 5th edition of the International Geography Olympiad for Central, South and South Eastern Europe. According to the Romanian Education Ministry, the results have placed Romania on top position in the nations’ classification. The contest included three exams testing written, practical and multimedia skills. This year’s edition held in Belgrade between June 23 and 29 was attended by 78 students from 8 countries.



    Europe — The European leaders have come closer to reaching an agreement over appointments to the main positions in the European institutions. The statement was made by the president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, on the sidelines of the Osaka summit. The European official stated that he had permanent consultations with the European leaders but a decision is expected to be made during Sunday’s meeting of the heads of state and government in Brussels. Besides the presidency of the EC, which is the most craved position, appointments need to be made, maintaining a political and geographical balance, to the positions of president of the European Council, of president of the European diplomacy, of president of the European Central Bank and of president of the European Parliament. The new EP meets for its first session next week in Strasbourg and the MEPs will have to elect their president, vice-presidents and quaestors.



    Transfagarasan — Road traffic on the high-altitude segment of the famous Transfagaragan route (in central Romania) was opened on Saturday for all categories of vehicles. Dubbed ‘the road among the clouds’ Transfagarasan is one of the most scenic routes of Romania, being located at an altitude of 2,042 meters. Built in 1974 the road measures almost 92 kms and links the southern region of Muntenia with the central region of Transylvania crossing the Fagaras Mountains. In 2009 the producers of the famous Top Gear show of the BBC station declared Transfagarasan the most beautiful road in the world. Road traffic on Transfagrasan had been closed on November 1, 2018 due to weather conditions. (translation by L. Simion)

  • June 19, 2019

    June 19, 2019

    VISIT The Presidents of Romania and Egypt, Klaus Iohannis and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi respectively, had official talks today as part of the visit the head of the Egyptian state is making to Bucharest. The 2 leaders announced with satisfaction an increase in the volume of bilateral trade, and President Iohannis said closer cooperation is being discussed, both in bilateral terms and between the European Union and Egypt, in the field of social and economic development, research, the fight against terrorism, energy and migration. Informal negotiations are under way for an economic agreement between the EU and Egypt.




    JUSTICE The European Commissioner for migration, home affairs and citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos, said in Bucharest on Wednesday that Romania will very soon become a Schengen member, because it has fulfilled most of its commitments. The EU official made this statement ahead of the EU – USA ministerial meeting on justice and home affairs, an event organised under the Romanian presidency of the Council of the EU. Taking part are also the European Commissioner for Justice, Vera Jourová, and European Commissioner for the Security Union, Julian King. For the first time, the US Attorney General William Barr is also attending the meeting. The US official had meetings yesterday with President Klaus Iohannis, with PM Viorica Dăncilă and with Justice Minister Ana Birchall. The agenda included topics of mutual interest in the field of justice. The US official also voiced his appreciation for the solid Strategic Partnership with Romania, which, he said, is the United States most reliable ally in the region.




    BUSINESS PM Viorica Dăncilă said on Wednesday that the French investments in Romania are proof that this is a favourable country for the business environment. Dăncilă is taking part in the French-Romanian Economic Forum, an event organised by the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Romania as part of the Romania-France Season. “We have all witnessed of late a true economic upswing in the bilateral relation, with many successful projects that have helped push the French-Romanian trade to over 9 million euro last year, the Romanian PM said. France is the 5th largest foreign investor in Romania. Over 3,000 French businesses operate in Romania, employing a combined 120,000 people, and France is the 3rd most important market for Romanian exports and the 6th largest source of Romanian imports.




    EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Dacian Cioloş, who was elected into the European Parliament on the lists of the 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance, was chosen to lead Renew Europe, a pro-European group formed around President Emmanuel Macron following the May 26th European elections, and the 3rd largest group in the EP. “The presidency of Renew Europe group is just a step in the political construction we have been working to design for 2 years, Ciolos said. A former PM of Romania and former European commissioner for agriculture, Dacian Ciolos is the leader of PLUS party in Romania. The alliance formed by PLUS and Save Romania Union won 8 seats in the European Parliament, coming in 3rd in Romania after the National Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party.




    MEDICINES Bucharest is hosting, between June 19th and 21st, the second meeting of the Heads of Medicines Agencies – HMA II. The agenda includes topics of strategic importance in the field of human and animal health products. Attending the meeting are the heads of medicines regulation and control agencies in the European Economic Area, representatives of the European Medicines Agency, of the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and of the European Commission. The first HMA meeting organised under the Romanian presidency of the Council of the EU was held in Timisoara in February.




    WEATHER Romanian meteorologists Wednesday issued a code yellow warning for heavy rainfalls, thunderstorms and hailstorms, valid today in most parts of the country. Precipitation amounts will exceed 25 l/sq.m. The bad weather is expected to continue on Thursday. Experts also warn that thermal discomfort will remain high especially at noon time, with the temperature-humidity index sometimes exceeding the critical 80-unit ceiling.




    FOOTBALL Romanias youth football team Tuesday night won 4-1 against Croatia, in its first match in the European Under-21 football championship hosted by Italy and San Marino. In the same Group C, France defeated England 2-1. On Friday, Romania takes on England and France plays against Croatia. This is the 2nd participation for a Romanian youth football team in a final tournament, after the one in 1998, organised in Bucharest. The 4 top-ranking teams qualify into the 2020 Olympics.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • May 27, 2019 UPDATE

    May 27, 2019 UPDATE

    SENTENCE The former head of the ruling coalition in Bucharest, Liviu Dragnea, was imprisoned on Monday night, after having been sentenced by the supreme court to prison for corruption offences. Dragnea will be quarantined for 21 days, during which he will undergo physical and psychological check-ups, and his prison activities will be decided. The head of the Social Democratic Party in power and Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Dragnea was sentenced on Monday to 3 and a half years behind bars for inciting abuse of office. The prosecution proved that while he was the president of the Teleorman County Council, Dragnea had 2 social assistance workers illegally employed with the Teleorman Child Protection Service, although in fact they were working for the local branch of the Social Democratic Party. Liviu Dragnea had also received a suspended sentence for election fraud, involving the 2012 referendum for the impeachment of ex president Traian Basescu. The Social Democrats executive president, PM Viorica Dancila, announced she will be the interim party president until a special congress is held. The Chamber of Deputies will also elect a new speaker.



    ELECTION Sundays election in Romania sends to the European Parliament representatives from 6 political parties, according to the results announced by the Central Electoral Bureau after most votes have been counted. The National Liberal Party, the largest in the right-of-centre opposition, got the most votes, 26.35%, followed by the Social Democrats in power with 23.16%, and the Alliance 2020 USR – PLUS with 21.24%. Three other Romanian parties will be represented in the EP: PRO România – 6.7%, the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania and the Peoples Movement Party with around 5.5% each. Seven other parties that took part in the election were below the 5% threshold. In the diaspora, many Romanians queued for hours to be able to cast their ballots. According to Radio Romanias correspondents in Rome, Madrid and London, people complained about the poor organisation of the vote. The Foreign Minister Teodor Meleşcanu issued a news release apologizing for the problems and saying he ordered an investigation in the countries in question. He also ordered the Foreign Ministry to run an immediate analysis to identify solutions and legislative measures for the development of a voting system adapted to the needs of the Romanian communities abroad. The turnout at the EP election was a record-breaking 49%. On the same day as the EP election, Romanians also voted in a referendum on the judiciary, initiated by President Klaus Iohannis. Over 80% of those who voted in the referendum answered “yes. The referendum turnover was over 41%, above the 30% minimum threashold for the vote to be validated. President Klaus Iohannis said on Monday that Romanians had cast a pro-Europe vote, in a country where thieves and criminals belong in prison, and once again criticised the organisation of the ballot in the diaspora.



    COUNCIL President of Romania Klaus Iohannis takes part on Tuesday in an informal meeting of the European Council in Brussels. The main topic will be an analysis of the results of the elections for the European Parliament, held between May 23rd and 26th. The EU leaders will also have a preliminary discussion on the candidates for the top posts in EU institutions.



    UNIVERSITIES Until May 31st, 24 Romanian universities are presenting their educational offer in Washington, at the annual NAFSA conference and exhibition, the most prestigious in the world in this field, the Romanian Council of Rectors has announced. The conference brings together more than 10,000 participants and 3,500 universities from over 100 countries. “Romania offers a high-quality, adequate and safe learning environment as well as European-standard campus facilities, for more competitive costs than other European countries, reads a news release issued by the Romanian Council of Rectors.



    POPE Online registration for attendance of the religious services held by Pope Francis in Romania continue until Friday. Hundreds of thousands of people have already registered. Besides Romanians, Christians from neighboring countries such as Hungary, Serbia and Ukraine but also from far away countries like Pakistan, Rwanda, South Africa, Australia and Israel will come to Romania for the Popes visit. Pope Francis makes a three-day apostolic visit to Romania from the 31st of May to the 2nd of June following an invitation from President Klaus Iohannis and the Catholic Church in Romania. The motto of the visit is “Lets walk together. The pontiff will travel to the capital Bucharest, to Iasi, the biggest city in the east of the country and home to a sizeable Roman-Catholic community, to Blaj, in the centre, the spiritual capital of the Romanian Greek-Catholics and to the Marian shrine in Sumuleu Ciuc, in the centre, in an area with a majority ethnic Hungarian population.



    EU The Council of the European Union Monday adopted a negotiating mandate allowing the Commission to take part in multilateral negotiations on electronic commerce. “The digitalisation of our economy has fundamentally changed the way businesses and consumers do trade. It was high time for international rules to reflect this transformation. The EU is committed to working with its WTO partners to put in place an ambitious and pragmatic framework that will guarantee a safe and predictable environment for online trade, said the Romanian Minister for Business Environment, Trade and Entrepreneurship Ştefan-Radu Oprea, who chaired the formal meeting of the Foreign Affairs (Trade) Council, as part of Romanias presidency of the Council of the EU.



    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • The European elections are on

    The European elections are on

    Ironically enough, it is precisely the Britons, who 3 years ago chose to leave the Union, are the first to hold the elections for the European Parliament this year. Alongside the Netherlands, the UK holds the vote for its representatives in Brussels on Thursday. And to make the irony even deeper, all polls on voter intentions predict a landslide victory of the anti-European Brexit Party.



    On Friday elections are scheduled in Ireland and the Czech Republic, where the vote will continue on Saturday as well. Slovakia, Latvia and Malta will also have their elections on Saturday, whereas the rest of the member states, including Romania, will hold the ballot on Sunday.



    All in all, over 400 million European citizens are invited to polling stations to elect the 751 MEPs for a 5-year term in office. These MEPs will adopt the EU legislation applicable in all member countries after having been ratified by each national parliament. The European Parliament also decides, together with the Commission, on the Union budget, it elects the president of the European Commission and then approves the list of European commissioners.



    A first discussion on the topic is scheduled to take place in Brussels on May 28, shortly after the election concludes, in an informal meeting of European leaders called by the president of the European Council, Donald Tusk.



    According to the most recent turnout estimates, over one-third of the European voters are certain they will cast their votes, whereas another one-third are still undecided. In the previous election, the overall turnout was 42%.



    In Romania, taking part in the race are 13 political parties, in Power or in Opposition, represented in the Romanian Parliament or not, on the left or the right side of the political spectrum. Adding to these are 3 independent candidates. Romania will have 33 members in the new European Parliament makeup, but according to a European Council decision, one of these seats will only be assigned to a Romanian after Brexit has taken effect.



    The Romanians living abroad will be able to vote in 441 polling stations, most of them in Italy and Spain, each of them home to around 1 million Romanians, and in the Republic of Moldova, a country with mostly Romanian-speaking population.



    Concurrently with the European election, Romania also holds a referendum on the judiciary, initiated by President Klaus Iohannis. Essentially, citizens will be asked whether they agree to no longer have amnesty or pardons for corruption-related offences, and to prohibit the Government from passing emergency orders in the field of crime, punishments and the organisation of courts.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • May 15, 2019 UPDATE

    May 15, 2019 UPDATE

    GOVERNMENT Romanias right-of-centre president, Klaus Iohannis, announced that on Wednesday he communicated to the Social Democratic Party in writing why he had turned down the partys nominations for the new ministers of justice, European funds and the diaspora. The letter sent to the main partner in the ruling coalition reads that the 3 nominees have no experience in the field they are supposed to manage. In a press conference, the head of state also criticized the leftist Government, which in his opinion has had no notable achievements so far and is not interested in the problems facing the citizens. In April, the PM Viorica Dancilă nominated Deputy Eugen Nicolicea to replace Tudorel Toader as justice minister, Deputy Oana Florea for the Ministry of European Funds replacing Rovana Plumb, and Senator Tit Liviu Brăiloiu for the Ministry for the Romanians Abroad, replacing Natalia Intotero. Rovana Plumb and Natalia Intotero resigned in order to run in the European Parliament elections, whereas Tudorel Toader lost the political support of the Social Democratic Party. The 3 ministries are currently run by interim ministers.




    EDUCATION Cooperation between Europe and Asia in the field of education has grown and a wide range of opportunities have been created through the EU financing instruments, like ERASMUS+ and Horizon 2020, the EU Commissioner for Education Tibor Navracsics said in Bucharest on Wednesday, at the 7th meeting of European and Asian education ministers—ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting). The conference is part of the calendar of events organized in the context of the Romanian presidency of the EU Council. The meeting, which will continue on Thursday, focuses on “Connecting education: inclusion, mobility and excellence in support of the Sustainable Development Goals. ASEM is a platform of cooperation between Europe and Asia, launched in 1996 in view of strengthening dialogue between the 2 regions. ASEM currently has 53 partners: 28 EU member states, Switzerland, Norway, 21 Asian countries and 2 international organisations, the EU and the ASEAN Secretariat.




    TARIFFS Calls and text messages within the EU are cheaper as of May 15. Consumers calling from their home country to another member state will pay a maximum 19 eurocents per minute (plus VAT) and 6 eurocents per text message sent (plus VAT). According to the European Commission, the new tariffs are applicable in all member states, and they will soon be valid in Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein as well. Business clients will not be subject to price regulation, given that many providers have special offers already in place for such consumers. The new ceilings, alongside the scrapping of roaming tariffs operated 2 years ago, are part of a review of regulations in the EU telecoms sector.



    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)