Radio România Internațional

Tag: Flag

Radio Romania International Sports club

One of 2023’s most important
sports events is underway in Poland’s Krakow. The European Games, until July 2nd
brings together almost 7,000 athletes of 48 countries, competing in 19 sports
disciplines. Representing Romania are 150 athletes, of whom 74 compete in the
women’s version of the event and 76 will prove their mettle in the men’s
version of the competition. The Romanian athletes will take the start in
athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, cycling, judo, Kayak-canoe, karate,
rugby in 7, ski jumps, diving, fencing, taekwondo, table tennis, teqball, target
archery, shooting sports and triathlon. Several world and European champions
are part of the Romania delegation, among whom the two athletes who will bear
the flags at the Games’ opening ceremony: men’s canoe world and European
champion, rower Cătălin
Chirilă, and the European title holder in the hammer throw event, athlete Bianca
Ghelber.

In the Olympic
sports disciplines where events as part of the Games are jointly hosted by
Krakow and Malopolska Polish province, results in all disciplines also count
towards the qualification to the 2024 edition of the Paris Olympics. For that particular
reason, the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee has been very keen on the
Romanian delegation’s auspicious participation in the Polish event. Talks with
the federations that will participate in the European Games, have revealed a
stated aim of 12-14 medals, the president of the Olympic and Sports Committee
Mihai Covaliu has stated in Bucharest.

We recall
that 4 years ago at the European Games in Minsk Romania came in 26th
according to the nations’ competition final rankings, wit 10 medals Of those
two were gold, three silver and five bronze, Gold went to the winner of the 10m
air rifle event, Laura Georgeta Coman, and Cătălin Chirilă and Victor
Mihalachi, winner of the men’s pair 1,000m race. Silver went to Dacian Barna and
Andreea Bogati in the aerobic gymnastics mixed pairs event. In table tennis, the
mixed doubles pair made of Ovidiu Ionescu and Bernadette Szőcs and Romania’s women’s
table tennis team also walked home with silver. In sambo, the winners of the
bronze medals were Daniela Poroineanu, in the 56-kilogram category, Anda
Mihaela Vâlvoi, in the 64-kilogram category and Alina-Petronela Păunescu, in
the 80+kilogram category. In
wrestling, bronze also went to Kriszta Incze, in the 62-kilogram category. Also
bronze went to the aerobic gymnastics team.

21 June 2023
Radio Romania International Sports club

One of 2023’s most important
sports events is underway in Poland’s Krakow. The European Games, until July 2nd
brings together almost 7,000 athletes of 48 countries, competing in 19 sports
disciplines. Representing Romania are 150 athletes, of whom 74 compete in the
women’s version of the event and 76 will prove their mettle in the men’s
version of the competition. The Romanian athletes will take the start in
athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, cycling, judo, Kayak-canoe, karate,
rugby in 7, ski jumps, diving, fencing, taekwondo, table tennis, teqball, target
archery, shooting sports and triathlon. Several world and European champions
are part of the Romania delegation, among whom the two athletes who will bear
the flags at the Games’ opening ceremony: men’s canoe world and European
champion, rower Cătălin
Chirilă, and the European title holder in the hammer throw event, athlete Bianca
Ghelber.

In the Olympic
sports disciplines where events as part of the Games are jointly hosted by
Krakow and Malopolska Polish province, results in all disciplines also count
towards the qualification to the 2024 edition of the Paris Olympics. For that particular
reason, the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee has been very keen on the
Romanian delegation’s auspicious participation in the Polish event. Talks with
the federations that will participate in the European Games, have revealed a
stated aim of 12-14 medals, the president of the Olympic and Sports Committee
Mihai Covaliu has stated in Bucharest.

We recall
that 4 years ago at the European Games in Minsk Romania came in 26th
according to the nations’ competition final rankings, wit 10 medals Of those
two were gold, three silver and five bronze, Gold went to the winner of the 10m
air rifle event, Laura Georgeta Coman, and Cătălin Chirilă and Victor
Mihalachi, winner of the men’s pair 1,000m race. Silver went to Dacian Barna and
Andreea Bogati in the aerobic gymnastics mixed pairs event. In table tennis, the
mixed doubles pair made of Ovidiu Ionescu and Bernadette Szőcs and Romania’s women’s
table tennis team also walked home with silver. In sambo, the winners of the
bronze medals were Daniela Poroineanu, in the 56-kilogram category, Anda
Mihaela Vâlvoi, in the 64-kilogram category and Alina-Petronela Păunescu, in
the 80+kilogram category. In
wrestling, bronze also went to Kriszta Incze, in the 62-kilogram category. Also
bronze went to the aerobic gymnastics team.

21 June 2023
June 26, 2022 UPDATE

FLAG DAY Events were organised in county capitals and in Romanian
localities hosting military units, to celebrate National Flag Day on the 26th
June. The National Flag Day was introduced to mark the day in 1848 when the
revolutionary government proclaimed the red, yellow and blue flag as the
national colours of all Romanians. The National Flag Day was introduced under a
1998 law.

MOLDOVA Russia’s ex-president and PM Dmitri Medvedev threatens that
the Republic of Moldova will see its natural gas supplies cut and exports of
agri-food products to the Russian market banned, if Chişinău joins the West’s
economic sanctions against Moscow. Medvedev, currently the vice-president of
the Security Council, posted on his Telegram channel an extensive article on
the Republic of Moldova, which Thursday was recognised as an EU candidate country.
According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Moscow, Medvedev says the
accession process may take decades, which makes Moldova’s annexation by Romania
an easier option. And, Medvedev argues, both Bucharest and Chişinău are making
efforts in this respect. The Romanian foreign ministry says Dmitri Medvedev’s
statements are part of Kremlin’s already known false rhetoric, disseminated in
the Republic of Moldova both before, and after the illegal, unjustified and
unprovoked aggression of Russia against Ukraine.

FESTIVAL The Sibiu International Theatre Festival continues in central
Romania until the 3rd July. This year’s motto is Beauty. This 29th
edition of the festival brings together artists from around the world in
theatre, dance, cinema, musical, opera and circus performances. Concerts, book
shows and exhibitions are also organized as part of the festival. Some of the
performances taking place in cultural or unconventional venues can be watched
on the Festival’s official website, digital streaming platform www.scena-digitala.ro,
and on the event’s official Facebook page and YouTube channel.

INCOMES The average monthly income per household in Romania was
nearly EUR 1,100 in 2021, up 8.9% since the previous year, according to the
National Statistics Institute. The total incomes were 3.6 times higher in
households whose members are higher-education graduates. Also, families in the
35-49 year bracket earned the most, while in terms of geographic regions the
highest incomes were reported in Bucharest-Ilfov (south), and the lowest in the
north-east of the country.

G7 The group of 7 rich democracies announced a ban on Russian gold
imports, during a summit held on Sunday, in the context of the war in Ukraine
and its impact on the energy and grains markets. According to Reuters, this
adds to sanctions already introduced against Moscow after Russia invaded
Ukraine at the end of February. The new measures will directly affect Russian
oligarchs and strike at the heart of Putin’s war machine, the
British PM Boris Johnson said. We need to starve the Putin regime of its
funding. The UK and our allies are doing just that, Mr. Johnson added.

TENNIS The Romanian player Simona Halep, no 19 WTA and former
world leader, will take on the Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova (82 WTA), in
the first round of the Wimbledon tournament. Halep, winner of the Wimbledon trophy
in 2019, is seed no. 16 this year in the competition. Another Romanian player,
Sorana Cîrstea, 32 WTA and seed no. 21, plays against Aleksandra Krunic of
Serbia (53 WTA). Gabriela Ruse (55 WTA) has the most difficult match in the All
England Club first round, against the American Coco Gauff, no. 12 in the world.
Irina Begu (43 WTA) is facing Ekaterine Gorgodze of Georgia (112 WTA), in the
same round, while Ana Bogdan (109 WTA) plays against Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska
(74 WTA), and Irina Bara (121 WTA) against Chloe Paquet of France (101 WTA). In
turn, Mihaela Buzărnescu (126 WTA) will play against Natasja Schunk of Germany (156
WTA). This year’s Wimbledon tournament has record-large amounts in prize money
(over GBP 40 million) but the WTA and ATP announced they will not assign any
points, after the British organisers decided to bar Russian and Belarusian
players from taking part, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. (AMP)

26 June 2022
June 26, 2022

FLAG DAY Events are organised in county capitals and in Romanian
localities hosting military units, to celebrate National Flag Day on the 26th
June. National Flag Day was introduced to mark the day in 1848 when the
revolutionary government proclaimed the red, yellow and blue flag as the
national colours of all Romanians. National Flag Day was introduced under a
1998 law.

REFUGEES The Romanian Border Police announced that on the 25th
June, 12,570 Ukrainian nationals (down 2.6% since the previous
day) crossed the border into Romania. Since Ukraine’s invasion by the Russian
army on the 24th February, until midnight Saturday, Romania received 1,324,823 Ukrainian
citizens. Of them, 80,000 chose to stay in Romania and benefit from the
protection and safety provided by the Romanian authorities, the PM Nicolae
Ciucă said. The government of Romania came up with a national protection
and inclusion plan addressing the Ukrainian nationals that benefit from
temporary protection. The plan includes children’s access to education and
access to jobs for the adults.

UKRAINE Heavy blasts were heard on Sunday at dawn in Kyiv,
affecting a residential compound near the centre of the city, international
news agencies report. The incident comes hours before the opening of a G7 summit
in Germany, discussing the situation in Ukraine. Kyiv had previously been hit
in early June, while another shelling was reported in late April, during a
visit by the UN secretary general Antonio Guterres.

MOLDOVA Russia’s ex-president and PM Dmitri Medvedev threatens the
Republic of Moldova that it will see its natural gas supplies cut and exports
of agri-food products to the Russian market banned, if Chişinău joins the
West’s economic sanctions against Moscow. Medvedev, currently vice-president of
the Security Council, posted on his Telegram channel an extensive article on
the Republic of Moldova, which Thursday was recognised as a EU candidate country.
According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Moscow, Medvedev says the
accession process may take decades, which makes Moldova’s annexation by Romania
an easier option. And, Medvedev argues, both Bucharest and Chişinău are making
efforts in this respect. He mentioned a recent joint meeting of the parliaments
of the 2 countries and said the president of Moldova, pro-Western Maia Sandu, would
be ready to renounce the country’s independence. Medvedev also argues that
these plans are supported by the US and the EU. Founded on part of the eastern
Romanian territories annexed by Stalin’s Soviet Union in 1940, today’s R. of Moldova
declared its independence from Moscow in 1991.

FESTIVAL The Sibiu International Theatre Festival continues in central
Romania until the 3rd July. This year’s motto is Beauty. This 29th
edition of the festival brings together artists from around the world in
theatre, dance, cinema, musical, opera and circus performances. Concerts, book
shows and exhibitions are also organized as part of the festival. Some of the
performances taking place in cultural or unconventional venues can be watched
on the Festival’s official website, digital streaming platform
www.scena-digitala.ro, and on the event’s official Facebook page and YouTube channel.

TENNIS The Romanian player Simona Halep, no 19 WTA and former
world leader, will take on the Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova (82 WTA), in
the first round of the Wimbledon tournament. Halep, winner of the Wimbledon trophy
in 2019, is seed no. 16th this year in the competition. Another
Romanian player, Sorana Cîrstea, 32 WTA and seed no. 21, plays against Aleksandra
Krunic of Serbia (53 WTA). Gabriela Ruse (55 WTA) has the most difficult match
in the All England Club first round, against the American Coco Gauff, no. 12 in
the world. Irina Begu (43 WTA) is facing Ekaterine Gorgodze of Georgia (112
WTA), in the same round, while Ana Bogdan (109 WTA) plays against Ukraine’s Dayana
Yastremska (74 WTA), and Irina Bara (121 WTA) against Chloe Paquet of France (101
WTA). In turn, Mihaela Buzărnescu (126 WTA) will play against Natasja Schunk of
Germany (156 WTA). This year’s Wimbledon tournament has record-large amounts in
prize money (over GBP 40 million) but the WTA and ATP announced they will not
assign any points, after the British organisers decided to bar Russian and
Belarusian players from taking part, in response to Russia’s invasion of
Ukraine.

26 June 2022
Romania at the Olympic Games

Rower Mădălina Bereş and swimmer Robert Glinţă have been
designated the flag bearers of Romania’s team at the Olympics in Tokyo, the
Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee has announced. Mădălina Bereş was a
bronze medalist at the Olympic Games in Rio 2016, world champion with Romania’s
eight and six times European champion. Glinta is the first Romanian swimmer to
win gold at the European Championships and the first athlete qualified for the
Tokyo Olympics.

The first Romanian flag bearer at the Olympic Games was
Iosif Sarbu, in Melbourne 1956. He used to be Olympic champion in the shooting
contest of the Helsinki Olympics in 1952. An illness in his right eye prompted
him to modify his gun to be able to use his left eye for shooting and went
fifth in Melbourne, a remarkable performance under the given circumstances.

However, the athlete with the largest number of
participations as Romania’s flag bearer was kayaker Aurel Vernescu. He carried
the flag for Romania three times, in Tokyo 1964, Mexico, four years later and
Munich 1972. He was designated flag bearer after he had won two world titles in
Yugoslavia in 1963.

He compelled recognition in Tokyo as well with a bronze
medal in the 500-meter individual race and with the Romanian four in the 1000-meter
event. In Munich 1972, he stepped onto the podium’s second step with the
Romanian four in the 1000-meter race.

Elisabeta Lipa became the first woman athlete to wear the
flag for Romania at the Olympic Games. She had this honour in Sydney in 2000
and Athens in 2004.

Lipa obtained her first Olympic gold in Los Angeles in 1984
together with Marioara Popescu in the double sculls event.

Four years later she got bronze with the Romanian four and
silver in the double sculls. She dominated the individual races for many years
and eventually reaped the Olympic title in Barcelona in 1992. She later joined
the famous Romanian eight with which she managed to win another three gold
medals, in Atlanta in 1996, in Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004.

Gymnasts from Romania have obtained the largest number of
notable performances in international competitions. And the first gymnast to
bear the Romanian flag in the Olympics was Catalina Ponor, triple Olympic
champion in Athens 2004.

In the end we remind you that you can revisit this report on
the internet at rri.ro as well as on Radio Romania International’s Facebook
profile

(bill)

8 July 2021
Romania at the Olympic Games

Rower Mădălina Bereş and swimmer Robert Glinţă have been
designated the flag bearers of Romania’s team at the Olympics in Tokyo, the
Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee has announced. Mădălina Bereş was a
bronze medalist at the Olympic Games in Rio 2016, world champion with Romania’s
eight and six times European champion. Glinta is the first Romanian swimmer to
win gold at the European Championships and the first athlete qualified for the
Tokyo Olympics.

The first Romanian flag bearer at the Olympic Games was
Iosif Sarbu, in Melbourne 1956. He used to be Olympic champion in the shooting
contest of the Helsinki Olympics in 1952. An illness in his right eye prompted
him to modify his gun to be able to use his left eye for shooting and went
fifth in Melbourne, a remarkable performance under the given circumstances.

However, the athlete with the largest number of
participations as Romania’s flag bearer was kayaker Aurel Vernescu. He carried
the flag for Romania three times, in Tokyo 1964, Mexico, four years later and
Munich 1972. He was designated flag bearer after he had won two world titles in
Yugoslavia in 1963.

He compelled recognition in Tokyo as well with a bronze
medal in the 500-meter individual race and with the Romanian four in the 1000-meter
event. In Munich 1972, he stepped onto the podium’s second step with the
Romanian four in the 1000-meter race.

Elisabeta Lipa became the first woman athlete to wear the
flag for Romania at the Olympic Games. She had this honour in Sydney in 2000
and Athens in 2004.

Lipa obtained her first Olympic gold in Los Angeles in 1984
together with Marioara Popescu in the double sculls event.

Four years later she got bronze with the Romanian four and
silver in the double sculls. She dominated the individual races for many years
and eventually reaped the Olympic title in Barcelona in 1992. She later joined
the famous Romanian eight with which she managed to win another three gold
medals, in Atlanta in 1996, in Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004.

Gymnasts from Romania have obtained the largest number of
notable performances in international competitions. And the first gymnast to
bear the Romanian flag in the Olympics was Catalina Ponor, triple Olympic
champion in Athens 2004.

In the end we remind you that you can revisit this report on
the internet at rri.ro as well as on Radio Romania International’s Facebook
profile

(bill)

8 July 2021
June 26, 2021

Covid-19. 62 new Covid cases
from over 27,000 tests were reported in Romania on Saturday, as well as 6 new
related deaths recorded in the previous 24 hours. 532 Covid patients are
receiving hospital treatment, including 97 in intensive care. More than 4.7
million Romanians have received at least one dose of the Covid vaccine, which
accounts for 25% of the country’s eligible population. A further easing of
coronavirus restrictions will come into effect from 1st July.

Flag Day. On
National Flag Day on Saturday, president Klaus Iohannis issued a statement
saying the Romanian flag witnessed the most important events in modern Romanian
history and symbolises the link between the country’s past, present and future.
Together with the coat of arms and the anthem, the flag, the president also
said, forms part of the national identity and represents the unity of the
Romanian nation, the independence, sovereignty and indivisible nature of the
state. The speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Ludovic Orban, who attended events in Iaşi to
celebrate National Flag Day, spoke about the importance of the flag in the
development of the Romanian state and the challenges faced by Romanians
throughout history. Various military and cultural events were held to mark
National Flag Day. In June 1848, the revolutionary government in Bucharest
established, in its first decree, blue, yellow and red as the colours of the
Romanian flag.

Diplomatic tour. Romanian foreign
minister Bogdan Aurescu and his Austrian and Lithuanian counterparts are in Georgia’s
capital Tbilisi today, on the last leg of a tour of South Caucasus aimed at
consolidating the European Union’s geopolitical profile in its own
neighbourhood and boost its involvement and role in solving the region’s
protracted conflicts. On Friday in Yerevan and Baku, the three ministers had
talks with high officials from Armenia and Azerbaijan, respectively. The
Romanian minister emphasised during talks that the trip to South Caucasus by
three EU foreign ministers reiterates the priority given by both the European
Union and member states to the stability and security of the states in this
region, including through enhanced involvement to find sustainable solutions to
protracted conflicts.

Investment. Prime
minister Florin Cîţu conveyed
to German investors that he would like to see stronger economic ties between
Romania and Germany. In a Facebook post, he said his government would carry out
reforms and that its strategy is to gradually increase the budgets for
development and investments on the international market leading to accumulation
of technology and know-how. He emphasised that his government will keep its
promise not to introduce new taxes and will focus on the efficient spending of
the funds in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Cîţu attended on Friday
an economic conference held in Bucharest by the Romanian-German Chamber of
Industry and Commerce.

Government. The government is today
discussing the framework agreement for the conditions for providing medical
care in Romania. The bill aims to increase the share of primary and outpatient
care and reduce unjustified hospitalisation. The bill also introduces further specialist
services provided through primary and outpatient care, such as remote
consultations for chronic patients, psychiatric therapy and medical-related
services provided by psychologists and speech therapists.

Tennis. Romania’s
Monica Niculescu reached the Wimbledon main draw after defeating the American
player Kristie Ahn in straight sets on Friday in the last qualifying round.
Romania has six players on the women’s singles main draw at Wimbledon, which gets
under way on Monday: Sorana Cîrstea, Patricia Ţig, Irina Begu, Ana Bogdan,
Mihaela Buzărnescu and Monica Niculescu. World no. 3 Simona Halep and the
winner in London two years ago, on Friday pulled out of the tournament with
calf injury.

Weather. 50 localities in 22 counties were affected
by the bad weather seen in the last 24 hours, with many households and
basements being flooded. Road travel was disrupted on 35 county roads. The wind
tore down the roofs of several buildings, felled over 200 trees and damaged electric
power poles. The electricity supply was disrupted in 162 localities in seven
counties. (CM)

26 June 2021
June 26, 2018

NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE – The no-confidence motion initiated by the National Liberal Party and backed by Save Romania Union and the Peoples Movement Party against the Dăncilă Cabinet was read out on Monday in Parliament, and is to be discussed and voted on tomorrow. The Government is criticised, among other things, for the changes to the Code of Criminal Procedure, for reducing the powers of the countrys president and for negative economic performances.

PARTNERSHIP – Romanias deputy PM Ana Birchall, who had a meeting on Monday in Washington with the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, reaffirmed the importance of the Strategic Partnership with the US for Romanias foreign policy. The Romanian official also emphasised the need to maintain a balanced and coherent NATO policy on the eastern flank. Ana Birchall reconfirmed the goal undertaken by Romania with respect to the fair distribution of responsibilities within the Alliance, in view of strengthening its defence capabilities. Also on Monday, in a meeting with Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, Ana Birchall discussed the development of the energy resources in the Black Sea, regional energy security and the development of transport and interconnectivity projects. Birchall reiterated the Romanian Governments firm commitment to ensure a transparent and attractive investment climate for the relevant companies.

DEFENCE – Romania faces Russian aggression on a daily basis in the Black Sea, and is fending off a wave of cyber-attacks and political interference, the Romanian defence minister Mihai Fifor said Monday in an interview to Associated Press. He added that Romania aims to be the regions main security provider and an early warning outpost for threats to fellow NATO allies. Mihai Fifor mentioned that Romania is hosting a major US military base and has a more pro-American stance than its neighbours, which has led to cool relations with Russia. The Defence Minister added that Romania plans to demonstrate that it is a pillar of stability and security in the region and to increase its contribution to mission Resolute Support in Afghanistan, from 700 troops at present to 900.

FLAG DAY – Bucharest and other cities in Romania are hosting today military and religious ceremonies as well as air shows, to mark National Flag Day. Taking part in the events in the capital city were the Defence Minister Mihai Fifor, troops, war veterans, and retired officers. National Flag Day was proclaimed by law in 1998 and is celebrated every year on June 26. The date was chosen to mark the day in 1848 when the red, yellow and blue colours were chosen as the symbol of the Romanian nation.

EU – The Romanian Foreign Minister, Teodor Meleşcanu, said the progress made by the European Union in the field of security and defence must contribute to strengthening the European defence and the cooperation with NATO. The statement was made in Luxembourg, at a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, attended by the EU foreign ministers and defence ministers, in the presence of NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg. Also in Luxembourg, Romania and Bulgaria presented the state and the prospects of Black Sea cooperation initiatives. Minister Teodor Meleşcanu pleaded for enhanced EU support for such joint projects.

CYCLING – Around 250 bikers have set out today from the capital city Bucharest, from Iaşi in the north-east, Timişoara in the west and Drobeta Turnu Severin in the south-west, to meet in Alba Iulia, in the centre of the country, where the Great Union was proclaimed 100 years ago. The cycling tour is devoted to the celebration of 100 years since the formation of the Romanian nation state, on December 1, 1918. The around 500-km route will be completed in 5 days. For a short while the participants were joined in Bucharest by President Klaus Iohannis, who took the opportunity to plead for national unity.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

26 June 2018
June 26, 2016 UPDATE

BREXIT European Parliament President Martin Schulz on Sunday called on Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron to commence the process of leaving the EU at the European Summit due on Tuesday. In an interview to German paper Bild, Schulz said that hesistating would lead to even more insecurity. On Saturday, foreign ministers from the EUs six founding states issued a joint statement in Berlin urging Britain to start the process of leaving as soon as possible. In another development, the US secretary of state, John Kerry will travel to Brussels and London for talks with EU and British officials about the Brexit effects.

COUNCIL Patriarchs of the Orthodox churches that convened in Cyprus for a Council that hadn’t been held for more than 1000 years but was marked by the absence of the Russian patriarch, on Sunday made an appeal for the protection of Christian minorities persecuted in the Middle East. The council has also voiced the church’s concern about moral dilemmas sparked off by the rapid progress in sciences like genetics and biotechnology. The meeting, which was aimed at strengthening Orthodox unity, was boycotted by the Georgian and Bulgarian churches, considered close to Moscow. The Orthodox community, which numbers about 250 million believers, consists of 14 autocephalous churches, including that in Romania.

COOPERATION Military cooperation on security issues between Romania and Great Britain will continue, Defence Minister Mihnea Motoc has said shortly after Britain’s recent decision to get out of the European Union. Motoc has also said that neither will Britain’s role inside NATO change. In another development Finance Minister Anca Dragu on Saturday said that Britain’s leaving the EU would not affect Romania from the financial point of view. According to Dragu, Romania can rely on significant currency and funding reserves. Furthermore, the country’s economy is robust and can take such a shock irrespective of the period of time needed for the implementation of such a referendum.

MEDAL Romania’s female saber team on Saturday won bronze at the 2016 edition of the European Fencing Championships in Torun, Poland, after beating Hungary. Romania’s male sabre team has also walked away with bronze after a win against the similar side of Hungary. We recall that last year the Romanian women fencers reaped gold in the sabre event of the European Championships in Montreux, Switzerland.

FLAG Every year on June 26th Romanians celebrate the Day of the National Flag. Ceremonies dedicated to this event are to be staged in Bucharest and all over the country. In his address on the occasion, president Iohannis has underlined that the flag is the most important symbol of national identity as it represents a modern Romania, a sovereign, independent, unitary and undivided country, a staunch ally of the USA and fully-fledged NATO and EU member. In turn, Romania’s Foreign Minister says the national flag is the supreme symbol of the Romanian unity and identity.

COMMISSIONER Brexit results have put the EU in an unprecedented situation but EU members will remain united and be strong after having overcome this new challenge, the European commissioner for regional policy, Romanian Corina Cretu has said. In a communique issued today, the European official said it is a difficult moment for the EU, but also for part of the Britons. Corina Cretu believes the government in London has to implement the referendum’s results as soon as possible because any delay leads to prolonged uncertainty. She explained there are clear rules for this process. The procedures of article 50 of the Maastricht Treaty must be launched first, and unless an agreement concerning Britain’s leaving of the EU winthin 2 years since the activation of the article is reached, the country leaves the Union without any new agreement in place.

26 June 2016
Europe and Ukraine

On Tuesday in Brussels, the EU leaders called on Russia to cooperate with the new president of Ukraine, Petro Porosenko, to pull out the Russian troops deployed on the border with Ukraine and to prevent separatists and weapons from entering that country. In a joint declaration made public after the summit, “the 28” encourage Moscow to engage in an open and honest dialogue to find a solution to the crisis. Here is European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso:

“…the central message of the statement we have agreed on Ukraine is important because it shows that we stand behind the legitimately elected new leadership and we will continue to give our full support to stabilize the country and increase its resilience to external pressures. “

The European support will mainly target the progress on constitutional reform, economic stability and an energy security. The EU leaders also urged president Porosenko, and Kiev authorities in general, to start constitutional and decentralization reforms right away. Although the declaration makes no reference to fresh sanctions on Russia, it does hint at the specific sanctions already imposed by the EU. The 28 have agreed to keep on working on the preparation of economic sanctions, stage three, for them to be ready for implementation, if need may be.

The EU is also worried about the constant violation of human rights in Crimea, since its annexation by Russia in March this year. The EU leaders have stated they will never recognize the annexation. On the other hand, the EU is looking for solutions to ease the burden of Ukraine’s debt to Russia in the energy field. To that end, European Commission representatives are attending the Russian — Ukrainian negotiations on the issue, hosted by Berlin. European Commissioner Gunther Oettinger has announced that an expected outcome of these negotiations would be the payment of one installment of Ukraine’s debt, worth 2 billion dollars, with money from the IMF, the World Bank or the European Bank. The Lithuanian President, Dalia Grybauskaite, has stated that it is likely for

Ukraine and the EU to sign an agreement on closer economic ties at the EU summit on June 27th. Kiev and the EU have signed the political chapters of an association agreement, but the commercial part has been postponed until after the presidential elections in Ukraine.

28 May 2014