Radio România Internațional

Tag: EU Council meeting

  • European topics in the spotlight

    European topics in the spotlight

    EU leaders met in Brussels
    on the sidelines of the winter summit to argue in favor of anti-COVID-19
    vaccination, amidst growing concern caused by the new virus strain, Omicron. According
    to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Brussels, EU heads of state and government
    highlighted the need of a concerted approach to the European Green certificate,
    saying that restrictions introduced by countries such as Italy, Portugal and Greece
    should not undermine the functioning of the single market or affect free travel
    disproportionately. In turn, Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, warned that
    restrictions should not go too far, especially when it comes to the movement of
    goods. In an official release, the Presidency also says that EU leaders have reiterated
    their commitment to reaching an optimal level of vaccination at global level,
    by exporting and distributing vaccines and auxiliary materials to countries in
    need, in particular Africa, either under the COVAX mechanism or using bilateral
    channels. Another topic high on the Council’s agenda referred to the recent energy
    price hikes. Romania believes nuclear energy and gas-derived energy should be
    recognized as clean sources of energy while transitioning towards a green
    economy. To an equal extent, president Iohannis said the market should be
    closely examined in order to improve fair trade regulations, to the benefit and
    protection the end user – whether the population of businesses.


    We have taken all these
    measures at home. We offer compensations and other support measures, but they
    cannot go on forever, and we need to see what caused these price hikes,
    considering, for instance, that the EU doesn’t fully make use of the entire
    transport capacity of its pipeline network. The market must be closely examined
    in order to see how we can improve fair competition regulations, so as to allow
    for a real competition and to protect consumers in this respect.


    The continuing tensions
    between Russia and Ukraine was also discussed in Brussels, as well as the risk
    of a new conflict between Moscow and Kiev. EU leaders frowned upon any further
    military aggression against neighboring Ukraine, which says will exact a heavy
    cost and a harsh response. EU leaders have reiterated their full support for
    the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Concerning the migration
    crisis on the Belarusian border, the European Council firmly condemned the actions
    of the regime in Minsk, who is using migrants and refugees in order to fuel a
    humanitarian crisis. (VP)

  • December 12, 2019 UPDATE

    December 12, 2019 UPDATE

    GOVERNMENT – The minority
    Liberal government in Bucharest on Thursday asked Parliament for a vote of
    confidence on three bills referring to the amendment of the justice laws, free
    local road transport for pupils, pensioners and people with disabilities, and
    to the budget caps on next year’s spending. Given that the Senate already
    approved on Wednesday some of the justice amendments proposed by the
    government, namely postponing by two years the early retirement of magistrates
    and by one year the transition to three-panel judges, the government says it
    will only ask for a vote of confidence on the postponement of the increase in
    the length of service required to enter the magistracy. Unless a no-confidence
    motion is filed within the next three days, the bills proposed by the
    government will come into force as soon they are signed into law by the
    president. The Social-Democratic Party in opposition announced it would notify
    the Constitutional Court over the first bill for which the Orban Cabinet has
    asked Parliament’s vote of confidence, the one modifying the justice laws
    regarding the seniority requirements for being admitted to the National
    Magistracy Institute, saying this was unnecessary.






    EU COUNCIL – The EU
    multi-annual budget, its efforts to combat climate change and Brexit are the
    main subjects discussed by the European Council meeting on Thursday and Friday
    in Brussels. Romania is represented by president Klaus Iohannis, who upon his
    arrival said he disagrees with the Finnish presidency’s proposal regarding the
    upcoming multiannual financial framework, saying that too little money is being
    allotted to the cohesion policy. President Iohannis said the agenda includes
    other complicated topics as well, such as climate change. In that respect the
    EU wants to introduce an ambitious goal, climate neutrality, to be implemented
    by 2050, which would be very complicated for East-European economies. Such
    expenses should be covered by the EU budget as well, so talks won’t be simple,
    Klaus Iohannis said.






    AIR FORCE -
    Romania is to purchase another five F-16 fighter jets from Portugal, with the
    same configuration as the 12 that are already in the possession of the Romanian
    Air Forces. MPs have adopted a bill on the continuation of the multiroll
    aircraft programme. The bill also provides for the modernization of all of the
    Romanian Army’s F-16 jets. The bill has been backed by all parliamentary groups
    and the defence minister has hailed the passing of the law.










    MIGRATION – Over 4%
    of Romania’s population has left the country in the last four years, the
    vice-president of the Romanian Center for Integration, Ioan Puhace, said on
    Thursday on the sidelines of the conference titled Legal Migration in 2020 -
    Challenges and Opportunities on the Labor Market ahead of a new Migration Boom.
    The Romanian official said solutions need to be found regarding the development
    of the labor market. One such solution is legal migration. Ioan Puhace explained
    Romanian employers are constantly looking for workforce, and as such there
    needs to be flexibility in terms of migration. In turn, the vice-president of
    the European Union of SMEs, Florin Jianu, pointed out that right now, Romania
    has a labor force shortage of approximately one million people. It is his
    opinion that Romania can attract workers from areas with Romanian-speaking
    populations, such as Serbia, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.






    STRIKES IN FRANCE
    – Public transport in France was again disrupted on Thursday by strikes in
    response to the government’s intention to reform the pensions system. Most
    trade unionists are categorically opposed to the replacement of the current
    system. Prime Minister Édouard Philippe on Wednesday made public the pensions
    reform bill, which is to apply fully beginning in 2022. He said the new system
    maintains the retirement age at 62, but that the government will encourage employees
    not to retire by means of a system of reductions and bonuses.






    ISRAEL – In Israel,
    Benjamin Netanyahu remains the prime minister of an interim government after
    the Knesset has voted for its own dissolution and the holding of new early
    elections in March next year. The leaders of the major parties, Likud and Blue
    and White, Benjamin Netanyahu and Beny Gantz, respectively, have failed to form
    a government. The two have made no fundamental compromise allowing the
    formation of a ruling coalition and have accused each other for this failure.


    (Translated by C.
    Mateescu & V. Palcu)

  • December 12, 2019 UPDATE

    December 12, 2019 UPDATE

    GOVERNMENT – The minority
    Liberal government in Bucharest on Thursday asked Parliament for a vote of
    confidence on three bills referring to the amendment of the justice laws, free
    local road transport for pupils, pensioners and people with disabilities, and
    to the budget caps on next year’s spending. Given that the Senate already
    approved on Wednesday some of the justice amendments proposed by the
    government, namely postponing by two years the early retirement of magistrates
    and by one year the transition to three-panel judges, the government says it
    will only ask for a vote of confidence on the postponement of the increase in
    the length of service required to enter the magistracy. Unless a no-confidence
    motion is filed within the next three days, the bills proposed by the
    government will come into force as soon they are signed into law by the
    president. The Social-Democratic Party in opposition announced it would notify
    the Constitutional Court over the first bill for which the Orban Cabinet has
    asked Parliament’s vote of confidence, the one modifying the justice laws
    regarding the seniority requirements for being admitted to the National
    Magistracy Institute, saying this was unnecessary.






    EU COUNCIL – The EU
    multi-annual budget, its efforts to combat climate change and Brexit are the
    main subjects discussed by the European Council meeting on Thursday and Friday
    in Brussels. Romania is represented by president Klaus Iohannis, who upon his
    arrival said he disagrees with the Finnish presidency’s proposal regarding the
    upcoming multiannual financial framework, saying that too little money is being
    allotted to the cohesion policy. President Iohannis said the agenda includes
    other complicated topics as well, such as climate change. In that respect the
    EU wants to introduce an ambitious goal, climate neutrality, to be implemented
    by 2050, which would be very complicated for East-European economies. Such
    expenses should be covered by the EU budget as well, so talks won’t be simple,
    Klaus Iohannis said.






    AIR FORCE -
    Romania is to purchase another five F-16 fighter jets from Portugal, with the
    same configuration as the 12 that are already in the possession of the Romanian
    Air Forces. MPs have adopted a bill on the continuation of the multiroll
    aircraft programme. The bill also provides for the modernization of all of the
    Romanian Army’s F-16 jets. The bill has been backed by all parliamentary groups
    and the defence minister has hailed the passing of the law.










    MIGRATION – Over 4%
    of Romania’s population has left the country in the last four years, the
    vice-president of the Romanian Center for Integration, Ioan Puhace, said on
    Thursday on the sidelines of the conference titled Legal Migration in 2020 -
    Challenges and Opportunities on the Labor Market ahead of a new Migration Boom.
    The Romanian official said solutions need to be found regarding the development
    of the labor market. One such solution is legal migration. Ioan Puhace explained
    Romanian employers are constantly looking for workforce, and as such there
    needs to be flexibility in terms of migration. In turn, the vice-president of
    the European Union of SMEs, Florin Jianu, pointed out that right now, Romania
    has a labor force shortage of approximately one million people. It is his
    opinion that Romania can attract workers from areas with Romanian-speaking
    populations, such as Serbia, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.






    STRIKES IN FRANCE
    – Public transport in France was again disrupted on Thursday by strikes in
    response to the government’s intention to reform the pensions system. Most
    trade unionists are categorically opposed to the replacement of the current
    system. Prime Minister Édouard Philippe on Wednesday made public the pensions
    reform bill, which is to apply fully beginning in 2022. He said the new system
    maintains the retirement age at 62, but that the government will encourage employees
    not to retire by means of a system of reductions and bonuses.






    ISRAEL – In Israel,
    Benjamin Netanyahu remains the prime minister of an interim government after
    the Knesset has voted for its own dissolution and the holding of new early
    elections in March next year. The leaders of the major parties, Likud and Blue
    and White, Benjamin Netanyahu and Beny Gantz, respectively, have failed to form
    a government. The two have made no fundamental compromise allowing the
    formation of a ruling coalition and have accused each other for this failure.


    (Translated by C.
    Mateescu & V. Palcu)

  • October 18, 2018 UPDATE

    October 18, 2018 UPDATE

    EU COUNCIL MEETING – Romania’s
    president Klaus Iohannis on Friday is attending the 12th Asia-Europe
    Summit in Brussels. On Wednesday and Thursday, President Iohannis attended the
    European Council meeting. Talks focused on migration, security and the future
    of the Eurozone. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent, EU leaders agreed
    on a set of measures to prevent cyber-attacks and protect EU citizens against
    aggressions of any type. With respect to migration, EU leaders highlighted the
    need to cooperate with transit countries and set clear objectives for Eastern
    Mediterranean, so as to put a stop to the flow of migrants. In his address, the
    president said that preventing and combating radicalization and terrorism
    should remain top concerns for Member States.

    OMBUDSMAN – The Ombudsman on Thursday demanded additional
    information from the Government and the Justice Ministry over the notifications
    regarding the Government emergency decree on the justice laws, filed by the Prosecutor
    General’s Office, the Save Romania Union and National Liberal Party in
    opposition, who claim that several points in the decree go against the
    Constitution. The Ombudsman was requested to challenge the decree at the
    Constitutional Court. The emergency decree stipulates, among other things, that
    prosecutors with the Prosecutor General’s Office, the National Anticorruption
    Directorate and the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism
    should have a seniority of at least 10 years. Prosecutor General Augustin Lazar
    said the new regulations could result in numerous irregularities in the system,
    while Justice Minister Tudorel Toader said the decree only transposes the
    points of view of the European Commission, the Venice Commission and the
    Superior Council of Magistracy.




    VISIT – Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila on
    Thursday continued her visit to the Arab Emirates. The Romanian official had
    talks with Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, State Minister for Economic Affairs and
    Trade, the chairman of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. Talks focused on new
    ways of consolidating bilateral relations in terms of economic cooperation and investment.
    On Wednesday, the heads of government in Bucharest and Abu Dhabi adopted a
    joint declaration on the establishment of a strategic economic partnership
    between the governments of Romania and the United Arab Emirates. The document
    underlines the important regional role played by the latter and Romania’s
    membership of the EU, which provides significant opportunities of bilateral
    cooperation in priority sectors for Bucharest, such as trade, investments,
    industry, agriculture, the financial and banking sector, energy, transport and
    infrastructure, the IT sector, education, culture, research and innovation and
    tourism. The declaration also highlights the important role of the Romanian and
    Emirati communities in the respective countries in the economic, social and
    cultural development of the two states. Also on Wednesday, the Romanian prime
    minister visited the Sheikh ZayedMosque,
    after on Tuesday she travelled to Dubai for talks with the ruler of Dubai    , Sheikh Mohammed
    Bin Rashid    AlMaktoum,
    whom she presented with the most recent investment opportunities in Romania.
    Viorica Dancila will next travel to Kuwait, the last leg of a tour that also
    took her to Turkey. She said the purpose of these official visits is to promote
    economic relations.




    AFRICAN SWINE FEVER VIRUS – A delegation of the European Commission
    will carry out an audit in Braila, southeastern Romania, until October 25, to
    see if the authorities have taken the appropriate steps in combating the
    African swine fever, the virus that led to over 200,000 pigs being culled in
    this county. A report will be made public compiling their conclusions on the
    European Commission website. The audit
    follows as Romania has been taking part, since 2015, in a multiannual European
    programme designed to combat the African swine fever, 75% of which is funded by
    the EU. Bucharest pledged to spend the money, along with its own contribution,
    to prevent the spread of this disease. The number of outbreaks has reached
    1,021 in 260 towns in villages in 14 counties, the National Veterinary and Food
    Safety Authority announced on Thursday. According to centralized data, some 107
    boars were reported as infected, while the total number of pigs culled so far
    stands at 350,000.




    REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT – Romania has managed to recover 220 million
    euros accounting for around a quarter of the European funds allocated under the
    Regional Operational Programme, the European Commissioner for Regional Policy
    Corina Cretu told Radio Romania. Thus, some of the 800 million euros available under
    this programme and which Romania was no longer able to spend by the end of the
    year due to a lack of applications, have been redirected to the development of
    small and medium sized enterprises and to purchasing medical equipment and
    ambulances for all counties in Romania. In another development Commissioner
    Cretu attended the 7th edition of the Annual Forum of the EU
    Strategy on the Danube Region (EUSDR), hosted by Sofia. The EU official said
    the Danube Delta boasts huge potential with tourism bringing great economic
    benefits to the entire region. On November 1 Romania will take over the
    presidency of the EUSDR for a year.




    TENNIS – Romanian and world no. one in
    women’s tennis Simona Halep has withdrawn from the WTA Finals held in Singapore
    between the 21st and the 28th of October and which brings
    together the world’s best eight players in 2018. Halep was recently diagnosed
    with a herniated disk injury which also forced her to forfeit the Moscow
    tournament and withdraw in the first round in Beijing. Halep, who won the
    French Open this year, ends the year in the top position regardless of the
    result in Singapore. Playing in the WTA Finals are Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, Angelique Kerber of Germany, Naomi Osaka
    of Japan, Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic, Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, Petra
    Kvitova of the Czech Republic, Sloane Stephens of the United States and Kiki
    Bertens of The Netherlands.


    (Translated by C.
    Mateescu & V. Palcu)

  • September 20, 2018 UPDATE

    September 20, 2018 UPDATE

    EU COUNCIL MEETING – President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday attended the informal meeting of the European Council held in the Austrian city of Salzburg. The President argued in favour of closer post-Brexit cooperation with London authorities in terms of foreign security and policy. Bucharest also wants the European Union to maintain a unitary and coherent voice in the negotiations with the UK in order to arrive at a Brexit agreement that is fair to all sides. Romania’s priority is protecting the rights and interests of its citizens who live in the UK and a close as possible a relationship between the EU and the UK after Brexit, the Romanian president also said. In terms of internal security, President Iohannis said Romania wants to strengthen European borders, both by means of regulations and by increasing FRONTEX personnel.



    MEETING — The leaders of the main ruling party in Romania, the Social-Democratic Party, will convene on Friday after an open letter signed by leading members of the party call on Liviu Dragnea to step down, both as party leader and as Chamber of Deputies Speaker. Cosigners claim Liviu Dragnea’s run-ins with the law have weakened the party’s position, particularly ahead of the European Parliament election of 2019 and the legislative election of 2020. They also want Prime Minister Viorica Dancila to be interim party president pending the organization of the next congress.



    REPATRIATION — Romanian Minister of Defence Mihai Fifor and US Ambassador to Bucharest Hans Klemm on Thursday attended a special ceremony in Campulung Muscel, southern Romania, hosted to welcome back the 30th Carpathian Eagles battalion. The mission of the Romanian military was to secure an important area around the military air base in Kandahar, in Afghanistan. They also provided training to the Afghan army. The battalion is mostly made up of military from the Dragoslavele 30th Mountain Troops Battalion who have also taken part in missions in theatres of operation in Kosovo, in 2005 and Afghanistan, in 2008. In April, the Mountain Troops from Campulung was the target of a car bomb attack. Eight military were initially believed to be injured, but in the end only one needed more thorough medical investigations at a hospital in Germany.



    EBRD — The president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Suma Chakrabarti, has called on Bucharest authorities to step up reforms aimed at facilitating the development of infrastructure. Chakrabarti claims the EBRD is interested in funding investment projects in road and rail infrastructure and help privatize state enterprises. The statement follows after the EBRD president earlier this week attended the Three Seas Initiative summit in Bucharest. So far the EBRD has invested over 8 billion euros in Romania.



    RULING — The Constitutional Court of Romania has postponed for October 16 the debate on the notifications filed by president Klaus Iohannis and opposition parties regarding the administrative code. The president claims the draft law was passed by the Chamber of Deputies in an unconstitutional extraordinary session. Several articles are vague and the code eliminates an integrity criterion for appointing members of Government. In turn, the notification filed by the National Liberal Party and Save Romania Union claims special pensions for local officials stipulated under the administrative code are in breach of the principle according to which all citizens are equal before the law.



    TENNIS — Romanian tennis player Irina Begu on Thursday advanced to the quarterfinals of the Seoul tournament totaling 250 thousand dollars in prize money. Begu brushed aside Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland in straight sets. This is Begu’s first win against the Polish player. On Friday, Begu will take on Maria Sakkari of Greece.


    (Translated by C. Mateescu & V. Palcu)

  • September 19, 2018

    September 19, 2018

    EU COUNCIL MEETING – Romanias president Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday and Thursday is attending the informal meeting of the European Council held in Salzburg, Austria. The agenda for talks focuses on migration, internal security and Brexit. According to the presidency, Iohannis will argue in favor of continuing talks over the Dublin Regulation with a view to reaching consensus and strike a balance between the solidarity and responsibility of member states and preserving an asylum seekers ability to opt out of any form of relocation. As regards internal security, the meeting will address three priority topics: the protection of external borders, the EUs internal security and cyber security. As regards Brexit, President Iohannis will reiterate the importance of maintaining a coherent and unitary voice within the European Union in negotiations with Britain so that Brexit should be fair for all sides. According to the President, Romania will insist on protecting the rights and interests of Romanians living in Britain.



    REFERENDUM – The Save Romania Union in opposition has called on the Ombudsman to challenge at the Constitutional Court the Governments emergency decree voted on Wednesday, calling a referendum on redefining the notion of family on October 6 and 7. Save Romania Union claims the Government and the ruling coalition have changed the referendum regulation after the process was initiated, which goes against best practices recommended by the Venice Commission. The Government called a referendum after Parliament recently voted a law to revise the Constitution, which stipulates that the family is the freely consented marriage between a man and a woman and not between spouses as it is at present.



    HEARING – The High Court of Cassation and Justice in Bucharest set the first hearing in the case where Social-Democrat leader and Chamber of Deputies Speaker Liviu Dragnea was sentenced to three years and six months imprisonment in the court of first instance for October 8. In June, the High Court of Cassation and Justice handed Dragnea the sentence for instigation to abuse of office. Anticorruption prosecutors say Liviu Dragnea ordered the fictitious employment of two party members at the Social Assistance and Child Protection Directorate. The two were paid with taxpayer money, although they allegedly worked exclusively for the Social-Democratic Party. Liviu Dragnea denied the accusations. In 2016, Dragnea was handed a 2-year suspended prison sentence for attempted election fraud. This summer the High Court cancelled the ruling to suspend the prison sentence. In another development, the Social-Democratic leadership will convene on Friday to discuss discontent expressed by certain party leaders, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development and Public Administration, Paul Stanescu, Senate vice-president Adrian Tutuianu and Bucharest Mayor, Gabriela Firea, who have called for Dragneas resignation.



    AFRICAN SWINE FEVER – The African swine fever compels Bucharest authorities to take active measures to prevent the virus from spreading. In Vaslui County, northeastern Romania, a thousand boars must be put down by the end of February 2019, while in Tulcea County, southeastern Romania, the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve is seeking help to remove the populations of wild boars and jackals from the area. In Gorj County, southwestern Romania, although no virus cases have been signaled, veterinarians are on high alert, all animal trade fairs were closed down and the police are carrying out road traffic checks. Since the first outbreak was identified in Romania in late July, 2017, a total of 900 hotbeds have been confirmed in 13 counties in the northwest and southeast.



    ROAD TRAFFIC – September 19 is the European Day Without a Road Death. On this occasion, the Romanian Police is intervening to sanction drivers exceeding the speed limit or not wearing seatbelts. Romania ranks last at EU level in terms of road traffic safety. Five people are killed every day in road traffic accidents.



    RRI CONTEST – Tuesday Jonas Sell and Sabrina Friesenborg of Dortmund, Germany, ended their trip to Romania, won as part of RRIs prize-winning contest “Alba Iulia, the City of the Great Union. For nine days, the two winners, accompanied by editors of the German Service, visited the main tourist, cultural and religious attractions, as well as nature reserves and caves in the Apuseni Mountains, the city of Alba Iulia and its surroundings. Over April 1 and June 30 Radio Romania International organized a prize-winning contest devoted to the Centennial of the Great Union. Participants were required to provide written answers to 3 questions related to Alba Iulia and Alba Iulia County. Over 268 correct answers were sent in by our listeners.


    (Translated by V. Palcu)