Radio România Internațional

Tag: EU-UK deal

  • The Week in Review 15-20 February

    The Week in Review 15-20 February

    The EU and the UK strike a deal in Brussels An agreement on renegotiating the UKs EU membership was reached, European Council president Donald Tusk announced late on Friday. After two days of talks in Brussels with other EU leaders, British Premier David Cameron said the EU provided the concessions he sought. Romania was represented at the summit by its President, Klaus Iohannis. The meeting also tackled migration and the distribution of refugees among member states. The European Council President Donald Tusk has announced a special meeting with Turkey early this March after having reiterated the importance of joint efforts by the EU and Ankara as to the refugee crisis. The 28 EU heads of state and government have unanimously agreed that a European approach is needed in dealing with the migrant issue. On the sidelines of the meeting, Klaus Iohannis had talks with the Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo, with whom he discussed the Romanian-Polish relation and the security challenges in eastern Europe.




    Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos pays visit to Brussels


    Romania’s joining the Schengen area, migration, energy union and the European workers’ rights in the UK were the main topics on the agenda of the Romanian prime minister Dacian Ciolos during his two-day official visit to Brussels. Ciolos held talks with the European Commission President, Jean-Claude Junker, who said after the meeting that the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism on Romania’s judicial system could be lifted during his term in office. PM Ciolos also met with the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, to whom he presented the priorities of his Cabinet, such as the smooth running of the local and parliamentary elections and the reform projects. The two officials also tackled the situation in the neighbouring Republic of Moldova. Ciolos insisted on Romania’s joining the Schengen area and said he would travel to the Netherlands in March to discuss the issue with the officials of this country, which had repeatedly used their vote to block the Schengen access of Romania and Bulgaria.



    Moldova’s President met with his Romanian counterpart in Bucharest


    Romanian President Klaus Iohannis reiterated in Bucharest, during talks with his Moldovan counterpart, Nicolae Timofti, Romania’s determination to support Moldova’s European efforts. Iohannis pointed out that more Romanian-Moldovan economic projects are needed in this respect, such as the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline. As for the financial aid requested by Moldova, President Iohannis said that Romania would grant the required amount provided that the Chisinau Government continued its reform programme. In his turn, President Timofti thanked the Romanian authorities for assisting Moldova in getting closer to the EU. Moreover, he voiced hope that Romania would further contribute to the development of Moldova’s energy sector, which would make his country less vulnerable in this respect.



    Anti-corruption prosecutors investigate two other Romanian MPs


    Romanian MPs said no to a request from the National Anti-corruption Directorate (DNA) regarding the preventive arrest the Social Democratic MP Madalin Voicu. On the other hand, the MPs have voted in favour of lifting the immunity of Nicolae Paun, who represents the Roma minority in Parliament and is investigated in the same case. Both MPs are accused of having unlawfully obtained and used European funds. According to prosecutors, over 2010-2015, pretending they would assist thousands of Roma people in finding a job or becoming entrepreneurs, the two deputies conceived a plan through which they misappropriated over 6 million euro worth of EU funds.



    Several children in Arges County diagnosed with haemolytic-uremic syndrome are treated in a Bucharest hospital


    About two weeks after the first cases of infants from Arges County with serious digestive infections were reported, some of them are still being treated in a Bucharest hospital as they have been suffering major complications. The microorganism that has already killed several children has not been identified yet. A group of doctors from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control travelled to Romania to assist in finding the cause of infection. The authorities expanded the epidemiological inquiry in Arges to test the animals in the areas where the children live.



    The Romanian state resumes the process of purchasing Brancusi’s work “The Wisdom of the Earth”


    The Romanian state has recently announced its intention to resume proceedings for the purchase of the sculpture “The Wisdom of the Earth”, one of Constantin Brancusi’s masterpieces. The commemoration of 140 years since one of the greatest fine artists of all time was born was marked in Romania with a number of events held in the Romanian artist’s native village, Hobita, in Targu Jiu, which hosts some of his best known works, and in several other cities. The Romanian Culture Ministry has recently announced that it will resume efforts to put the open-air ensemble in Targu Jiu on UNESCO’s heritage list.



    (Translated by Elena Enache)

  • February 19, 2016 UPDATE

    February 19, 2016 UPDATE

    EUROPEAN COUNCIL — The European Council President Donald Tusk announced late on Friday that there is unanimous support for a deal between the UK and the EU. The announcement comes after two days of intense negotiations in Brussels. The agreement paves the way for the UKs in/out referendum on EU membership in June. “I have negotiated a deal to give the UK special status in the EU. I will be recommending it to Cabinet tomorrow”, the British Premier said in a post on Twitter. Romania was represented at the European Council meeting by President Klaus Iohannis.




    HEALTHCARE — The Romanian PM, Dacian Ciolos, and the healthcare minister, Patriciu Achimas Cadariu, on Friday paid a visit to Arges County, in the south, where several cases of serious digestive problems have been reported among children. On Thursday two foreign experts came to Romania in an attempt to identify the source of the bacteria that caused the digestive problems in children. 3 of the children continue to be in a serious state, having been diagnosed with the hemolytic-uremic syndrome. We recall that 3 children died in February due to serious digestive infections that were followed by other major complications.




    BRANCUSI DAY— In 2016 Romania marks 140 years since the birth of the great sculptor Constantin Brancusi. February 19 has been proclaimed national celebration day and the National Program “140 years since the birth of the great sculptor Constantin Brancusi” has been launched on the occasion. The program is being run by the Romanian Cultural Institute in partnership with the “Constantin Brancusi” Centre for Research, Documentation and Promotion. On Brancusi Day, various events have been scheduled across Romania as well as at the Romanian Cultural Institute’s centres abroad.



    ECONOMY — Romania attracted 1.25 billion euros from the external capital markets, by reopening the two instalments of euro bonds issued in October 2015, at historical cost lows, the Public Finance Ministry officials announced on Friday. Of the total sum lent, 750 million euros will reach maturity in 10 years’ time while 500 million euros will reach maturity in 20 years’ time. According to Finance Minister, Anca Dragu, the transaction reconfirms the very good perception of and the confidence of investors in the Romanian economy in the context of a volatile market.



    FOOD INDUSTRY — “Salam de Sibiu”, a dried raw salami with noble mould, has been registered under EU quality schemes as a Romanian traditional product, being recognised as such at EU level, the Romanian Agriculture Ministry has announced. According to the line ministry, “Salam de Sibiu” has been included in the Register of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). The decision by the European Commission was published on Friday in the Official Journal of the EU. Romania has only one more similar product recognised at EU level, namely “Magiun de prune Topoloveni”, which is a jam made from very ripe fruit, from various plum varieties, without added sugar. The agriculture minister, Achim Irimescu, said late last year that Romania intends to get European recognition for two other products: the cheese of Ibanesti and the famous kürtőskalács, a spit cake made in Tinutul Secuiesc (Szecklerland), in central Romania.



    FILM — The long reel “Illegitimate” directed by Romanian Adrian Sitaru will have a final screening on Saturday at the Berlin International Film Festival. The film, which had its world premiere late last week, has received big hands of applause from the public and appreciative reviews by international journalists. “Illegitimate”, one of the most daring and thought-provoking Romanian films in recent years, tells the story of two brothers and their illegitimate love. The Berlin International Film Festival started on February 11 and runs until February 21.



    HANDBALL — Romania’s vice champion women’s handball team, HCM Baia Mare, on Friday qualified to the Champions League’s quarter finals, after defeating, on home turf, the German team Thuringer HC, 38-27, in the main Group 1 of the Champions League. In the same competition, but in the 2nd main Group, the champions CSM Bucharest will take on the Danish team FC Midtjylland, on Sunday, in an away match. Ranking first in this group is the defending champion Buducnost Podgorica, followed by Gyori Audi ETO KC, RK Vardar Skopje and CSM Bucharest.


    (Translated by Diana Vijeu)