Radio România Internațional

Tag: Foreign Affairs Council

  • Funds for Ukraine

    Funds for Ukraine

    Romania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminiţa Odobescu, represented Romania in Monday’s meeting of EU Foreign Ministers, held in Luxembourg. The number one point on the agenda for talks was Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Minister Odobescu highlighted the importance of accelerating the provision of military assistance to neighboring Ukraine, recalling, in this context, the recent decision of Romania’s Supreme Defense Council regarding the transfer to Ukraine of a Patriot surface-to-air missile system. At the same time, Minister Odobescu referred to the importance of the EU-Ukraine security commitments and emphasized the importance of the Union’s involvement in helping Ukraine restore its civil infrastructure, seriously affected by Russian attacks. The Romanian Foreign Minister also hailed the adoption of the 14th package of sanctions against Russia. The new sanctions target 116 entities, companies and individuals, Russian liquefied gas, introducing bans for vessels that transport LNG to European ports, but also for the export of some components necessary for the Russian energy industry. On the other hand, Hungary continues to block some important decisions regarding Ukraine, worth 2.4 bln EUR.

     

     

    According to Radio Romania’s correspondent, in addition to European institutions, the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, said he came up with a solution to make the first funds available this month. From a legal point of view, Josep Borrell argued, if a Member State was not previously involved in the decision regarding the use of profits, it cannot be part of the decision regarding the allocation of said profits. The subject will be discussed this week at the summit of European leaders. Meanwhile, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova are officially negotiating their accession to the European Union as of Tuesday, a long-term process during which the two states must align their national legislation with the provisions of the community bloc. Since obtaining EU candidate status, Kyiv and Chișinău have made general adjustments in key areas, proving their determination to get closer to Union legislation. But now, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova will have to operate comprehensive changes in nearly all sectors, so that they may join the European Union in a few years’ time. Minister Odobescu also reiterated Romania’s support for the European integration efforts of the two candidates. (VP)

  • June 24, 2024 UPDATE

    June 24, 2024 UPDATE

    FAC – On the sidelines of the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) meeting in Luxembourg, EU Foreign Ministers on Monday adopted a new package of sanctions against Russia, the 14th since the start of the invasion in Ukraine. EU Foreign Ministers also adopted a military assistance package for Ukraine worth 1.4 bln EUR. For the first time, the funds will be disbursed from the frozen assets of Russia’s Central Bank. The EU plan to use frozen Russian assets is separate from the decision taken by G7 leaders this month to use future Russian frozen assets to fund 50 bln EUR worth of loans to Ukraine. Representing Romania was Foreign Minister Luminița Odobescu.

     

     

    FUNDS – The European Union disbursed nearly 3 bln EUR from the Modernization Fund to 39 energy projects to be implemented in 10 Member States, including Romania. This is the largest such disbursement so far. The funds will help Member States attain their climate and energy goals and will contribute to attaining EU’s long-term objective of becoming climate neutral by 2050.

     

     

    EU ACCESSION – The European Union on Tuesday is expected to launch EU accession negotiations with the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, the Belgian presidency has announced. The two countries’ negotiation chapters will be assessed separately. We recall the EU officially launched negotiation talks with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova in mid-December 2023. Earlier this month, the European Commission announced Kyiv and Chișinău have officially met all requirements to open negotiation talks.

     

     

    BLOUSE – June 24 marks the International Day of the Romanian Blouse, a specific item of traditional clothing.  Last weekend, Romanian and Moldovan communities in Belgium celebrated this special day. A symposium was held at Château de la Solitude, a heritage building in Auderghem, Brussels. Two debates were also held on this occasion, attended by a large audience, interested to learn more about ethnography and folklore, the process behind the manufacturing of the Romanian blouse and the transition from tradition to modernity. The connection between the Romanian blouse and the celebration of the Sânziene, gentle fairies in Romanian mythology, as well as literature on related folk stories were also topics of debate.

     

     

    RECORD – The Romanian-Moldovan-German Cultural Center in Nuremberg, Germany, entered the Guinness Book of Records twice for the longest belt manufactured within the space of three months, measuring over 1,600 meters and the heaviest belt, weighing 70 kg. The initiative was launched at the end of February, and since then over a thousand Romanians from all over the world have joined the project and helped manufacture the longest chain belt. Each segment displays the motif of a specific area of Romania, Ionela van Rees-Zota, coordinator of the Cultural Center, told Radio Romania. “We have a representative or an association from almost every county in Romania. We have people from all over the world, from New Zealand to the Republic of Moldova and from Norway to Asia”, Ionela van Rees-Zota said.

     

     

    FITS – The International Theatre Festival in Sibiu (FITS) continues. Over 830 events involving 5,000 artists from 82 countries, including reputed theatre directors and playwrights such as John Malkovich, Tim Robbins, Pippo delBono or Neil LaBute are expected to take part. The “Performance Exchange” was opened on the sidelines of the festival on Monday. Having reached its 27th edition this year, the event brings together over 80 representatives of cultural institutions and organizations in over 30 countries to establish connections and carry out joint projects. (VP)

     

  • June 23, 2024 UPDATE

    June 23, 2024 UPDATE

    PENTECOST Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Christians in Romania Sunday celebrated the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles of Jesus, a feast day also known as the Pentecost and in Romanian as “Rusalii”. The Pentecost is a symbol of the establishment of the Christian Church, 50 days after the Resurrection of Christ and 10 days after Ascension Day. Believers evoke the moment when the Holy Spirit gave the 12 Apostles the gift of speaking many languages to preach to the crowds, and when the first 3,000 people were baptised, thus establishing the first Christian community.

     

    FOREIGN AFFAIRS The Romanian foreign minister Luminiţa Odobescu takes part on Monday in the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, focusing on the Russian aggression in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, the developments in Georgia. The EU foreign ministers will also have an informal exchange of opinions with their counterparts in the Western Balkans, as part of a working luncheon. According to the Romanian foreign ministry, talks on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine will focus on the recent developments on site and the support the EU must provide to Ukraine, particularly in the military area. The participants will also discuss new restrictions against Russia and Belarus, the EU-Ukraine security commitments and will assess the Ukraine Peace Summit held in Switzerland on June 15-16.

     

    MOLDOVA The Republic of Moldova’s Sovereignty Day was marked in Romania’s neighbouring country on Sunday. Since it adopted its Sovereignty Declaration on June 23, 1990, Moldova has struggled with difficulties, but it has remained a peaceful and democratic state, in which the Moldovan nation has been sovereign and has decided the fate of the state, the country’s president Maia Sandu pointed out. She added that the citizens will decide whether to join the EU in a referendum scheduled for this autumn. In her address, Sandu also said that the years of independence have taught Moldova democracy and freedom cannot be taken for granted and must be defended every day.

     

    TIFF The winner of this year’s Transylvania International Film Festival is the Indian film “Girls Will Be Girls”, directed by Shuchi Talati, a drama on the condition of women in a repressive system. Another Indian film, “The Adamant Girl,” by Vinothraj Palani, received the jury’s special award. The Indian director was also awarded at TIFF in 2021, for his debut work, “Pebbles”. Also at the TIFF Gala, the director Sebastián Quebrada won the best director award for “El Otro Hijo.” The best actor award went to the Iranian Hasan Pourshirazi, for his performance in “The Old Bachelor”, while “Dismissed” by Horia Cucută and George ve Ganćaard was voted the best feature in the Romanian Film Days.

     

    EU Next week the European Union starts its accession negotiations with the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. The EU Council’s Belgian presidency announced the official opening will take place on June 25, and that the 2 countries’ accession roadmaps will be assessed separately. The EU Council brings together the 27 Member States, which have already approved the accession and negotiation frameworks for the 2 candidate states. Chişinău and Kyiv submitted their candidacies shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

     

    FOOTBALL Romania lost 2-0 to Belgium, on Saturday night in Cologne, but remains top placed in the most evenly balanced group at the European Football Championship. Romania, Belgium, Slovakia and Ukraine all have 3 points each ahead of the last round in Group E, with better goal differences for Romania and Belgium. Romania’s decisive match for qualification in the eighth-finals is scheduled on Wednesday against Slovakia, in Frankfurt. Moving up into the next stages of the competition are the top 2 teams in each group and the best 4 third-ranking teams in each group. (AMP)

  • January 22, 2024

    January 22, 2024

    Visit. The Romanian Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu, has stated that the time has come for relations between Romania and Vietnam to move to the ‘next level’, after almost seven and a half decades since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. After the discussions in Bucharest with his Vietnamese counterpart, Pham Minh Chinh, Ciolacu pointed out that Romania was one of the main promoters of the development of Vietnam’s relations with the European Union and stated that he wanted Romania to become the main partner of that country in terms of its commercial access on the European market. He also proposed to his Vietnamese counterpart a partnership aimed at promoting medicines produced in Romania in the Southeast Asian area. For his part, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized his country’s interest in developing partnerships in fields such as science, technology, innovation, agriculture. The head of the Hanoi government will be received by President Klaus Iohannis.










    Senate. In Bucharest,
    the Senate was convened, today, in an extraordinary session to adopt the
    emergency ordinances recently issued by the Government, in the context of the
    farmers’ and transporters’ protests. There are several normative acts,
    including one on the excise duty on diesel fuel, and another modifying
    regulations in the field of road transport. The emergency ordinances were
    approved by the executive during the parliamentary recess and, according to the
    Constitution, Parliament must be convened within five days to turn them into
    laws. On the other hand, the first day of the three-day rally authorized by the
    Capital City Hall in front of the Parliament building was, on Sunday, a
    failure. Only a few people came and it was not about farmers or transporters.
    The protest continues, however, near the capital and across the country. The
    demands of farmers and transporters remain the same, from the reduction of the mandatory
    insurance fees and the recovery of a percentage of the excise duty on fuels, to
    fiscal fairness and the shortening of border crossing times.












    IMF. An IMF mission
    will come to Bucharest next week, approximately four months after the previous
    visit, to analyze the latest economic and financial developments. According to
    a press release, the institution estimates an economic growth of 2.3% for
    Romania this year and a budget deficit of 6% of the GDP. The IMF recommends authorities
    in Bucharest to implement additional reforms, of some two percent of the GDP.
    At the end of the previous visit, the head of the mission for Romania, Kees
    Martijn, said that the fiscal package adopted by the government was a step in
    the right direction, but other reforms were needed, especially regarding taxes,
    to increase revenues, efficiency and fairness.






    FAC. The head of Romanian
    diplomacy, Luminiţa Odobescu, is participating, today, in Brussels, in the Foreign
    Affairs Council. The main topics on the agenda are Russia’s aggression against
    Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East, reads a press release issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bucharest.
    There will be both formal debates in the EU-27 format, as well as informal,
    separate discussions, with the participation of several foreign ministers from
    the region. On the sidelines of the FAC meeting, there will be an informal
    breakfast with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, S.H. Shoukry, in
    preparation for the tenth meeting of the EU-Egypt Association Council, on
    January 23, 2024. Minister Odobescu also has a meeting with the Secretary
    General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg.






    Gaza. Intense Israeli
    air raids and street fighting with Hamas militants continue in the Gaza Strip,
    where Palestinian medical officials have reported that the death toll has
    exceeded 25,000. As street fighting intensifies between Israeli forces and
    Hamas militants in Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, the southern town of
    Khan Yunis is being hit by heavy Israeli bombardment. Meanwhile, the United
    States, Qatar and Egypt continue their attempts at mediation, but Hamas demands
    that Israel end the war and withdraw its forces before the hostages are
    released, an option rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
    During the night, the hostages’ relatives and sympathizers gathered near the
    prime minister’s official residence to demand an agreement for their release.
    The French Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, is meeting today
    with the families of the hostages, and then with Prime Minister Benjamin
    Netanyahu and his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant. (MI)





  • The EU supports the Republic of Moldova and Georgia

    The EU supports the Republic of Moldova and Georgia

    The Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union has approved a 40 million euro worth of aid for the defense sector of the Republic of Moldova and a similar 30 million dollar aid for Georgia. The amount earmarked for the Republic of Moldova comes from the European Peace Facility, from which the military support for Ukraine is also financed, and the money will be used for non-lethal measures and acquisitions, which, however, strengthen the country’s defense capacity. Among them are various equipment for aerial surveillance, for transport or for defense against cyber-attacks.

    The financed services cover technical training for the Army of the Republic of Moldova. They increase the interoperability of this country’s army and bring it closer to the standards used in the European Union in the military field. The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, says that Europe continues to help countries like the Republic of Moldova or Georgia to modernize their defense capabilities and participate in the Union’s military missions. It is the third similar aid in the last 2 years, through which the Union partners these two countries to ensure stability and security in the region, against the background of the Russian threat.





    In another development, Bucharest has hosted this week a trilateral meeting Romania-US – Moldova on defense. Representatives of the British Ministry of Defense have also participated. The Secretary of State for Defense Policy, Planning and International Relations, Simona Cojocaru, has stated that, in the current security context, generated by the Russian aggression in Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova is exposed to hybrid threats and Russian propaganda and disinformation campaigns. For Romania, it is a strategic priority to support the neighboring country in strengthening its resilience and defense capabilities, and the support shown by Romania, the United States and Great Britain clearly shows that the Republic of Moldova is not alone in this process, Simona Cojocaru stressed.







    Bilateral cooperation in terms of security and defense was also high on the agenda of the visit paid, this week, to Chisinau by the Romanian Minister of Defense, Angel Tîlvăr. He had meetings with his Moldovan counterpart, Anatolie Nosatîi, and was received by President Maia Sandu. Minister Tîlvăr stated once more that Romania stood by the Republic of Moldova in the process of reforming the Army and increasing defense resilience in the face of a wide spectrum of threats. Maia Sandu said that Romania remains a strategic partner for strengthening the national defense and security capabilities. The Moldovan President thanked Bucharest for supporting Moldova in its European journey, including through the donation offered to improve the Army’s logistic system. (MI)

  • March 20, 2023

    March 20, 2023

    VISIT – On a visit to the United Arab
    Emirates, Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis this morning met in Abu Dhabi with
    his counterpart, Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan. On this occasion, the
    countries’ relevant ministers and officials signed bilateral documents in the
    fields of energy, cyber-security and education. Yesterday, president Iohannis
    visited Masdar City, a model of urban sustainable development focusing on
    energy efficiency and environment protection. President Iohannis attended a
    presentation of projects in the fields of transport, urban ventilation and
    cooling, building-generated energy and making optimal use of sunlight in
    research and education institutions. Successfully tested in Masdar City, these
    solutions can inspire projects in other cities, including Romania, which have a
    growing interest for sustainable energy. Romanian researchers affiliated with
    institutes in Masdar City have also contributed to their development, the
    Presidency reports.


    EXERCISE – Over March 20 – April 2, some 3,400
    Romanian and international servicemen are taking part in the Sea Shield 2023
    exercise held in the Black Sea, the Danube River, the Danube Delta and coastal
    areas. Sea Shield 2023 is the largest-scale training exercise planned and
    carried out by the Romanian Naval Forces this year. Attending will be military
    units from 12 allied and partner states, accompanied by military watercraft,
    aircraft and other combat equipment. The exercise will help increase the level
    of interoperability of participant forces and is part of NATO’s multinational
    training programs.


    MEETINGS – Romania’s Foreign Minister, Bogdan
    Aurescu, is today attending the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels.
    According to a Foreign Ministry release, EU Foreign Ministers will discuss
    Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, with this country’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro
    Kuleba, expected to join talks in videoconference format. Minister Aurescu will
    discuss the need to maintain support for Ukraine at all levels, both from the
    EU and Member States individually, with a focus on providing military equipment
    and training for the Ukrainian army as quickly as possible as part of the EU
    Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine). The Romanian
    official will also express support for consolidating the sanctions regime
    against Russia, while also streamlining the implementation of existing
    restrictions, with a focus on continuing diplomatic efforts to further isolate
    this aggressor state. Minister Aurescu will also address the security
    developments in the Republic of Moldova and destabilizing actions targeting the
    pro-European administration in this country. The Romanian Foreign Minister will
    encourage Member States to continue their support for Chișinău. Also today,
    Bogdan Aurescu is attending the joint meeting of EU Foreign and Defense
    Ministers and the International Conference of donors in support of the people
    of Turkey and Syria, affected by the February 6 earthquake.


    MOLDOVA – Romania’s Prime Minister, Nicolae
    Ciucă, will this week travel to the Republic of Moldova to meet his Moldovan
    counterpart, Dorin Recean. On this occasion, Prime Minister Ciucă will reassert
    Romania’s support for the reform process in this country, the consolidation of the
    economy, the resilience and security of Romania’s neighbor, as well as for
    advancing Moldova’s European track. On the other hand, Moldova’s Supreme
    Security Council is expected today to discuss what president Maia Sandu has
    called the exceptional situation of the country’s judiciary, after the
    General Assembly of Magistrates has delayed the appointment of members of the
    Superior Council of Magistracy. President Sandu argues Moldovan judges want to
    block efforts to reform the judiciary by setting their next meeting for the end
    of April. In last week’s address to Parliament, the Moldovan president called
    on the Government and Parliament to create a special court of law to
    investigate corruption cases in the justice system.


    AWARD – The Radio Drama show The Sixties
    written by Ema Stere and adapted and directed by Mihnea Chelaru scooped the
    Best European Drama award at the BBC Audio Drama Awards 2023 in a gala hosted
    by the BBC Broadcasting House in London. Starting 2012, the BBC Audio Drama
    Awards have been celebrating the range, originality and cut-through quality of
    audio drama on air and online and giving recognition to the creativity of
    actors, writers, producers, sound designers and others who work in this genre. The
    Best European Drama was introduced in 2019 to acknowledge the role of other
    European public service broadcasters in nurturing this distinctive genre.


    RUGBY – Romania’s national rugby team
    ranked 3rd in the 2023 edition of Rugby Europe Championship after
    securing a dramatic 31-25 win against Spain in the bronze final, held away from
    home. In the big final, Georgia defeated Portugal 38-11. Romania’s rugby team
    will next play friendlies against Georgia and Italy ahead of its participation
    at the World Cup in France this autumn. Romania has been drawn in Group B
    alongside Ireland, South Africa, Scotland and Tonga. (VP)







  • November 15, 2022

    November 15, 2022

    DEFENSE – Romania’s Defense Minister, Angel
    Tîlvăr, is attending the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels, in the
    Defense Ministers format. The main point on the agenda is the process of
    developing defense capabilities. Defense Ministers will be briefed regarding
    the latest operational developments, including the EU’s recent military
    assistance mission targeting Ukraine. Talks will also address the overall
    security context affected by the Russian war in Ukraine. Attending will also be
    NATO’s Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, and Ukraine’s Defense Minister,
    Oleksy Reznikov, the latter addressing the meeting via videoconference.




    VISIT – Romania’s Foreign Minister,
    Bogdan Aurescu, is today paying an official visit to Budapest, responding to
    the invitation extended by his Hungarian counterpart, Péter Szijjártó. According to the Romanian official, the
    Romanian-Hungarian Chamber of Commerce will be inaugurated next year. Hungary
    is one of Romania’s top trade partners. In the first seven months of the year,
    two-way trade went up by 32% compared to the same period of last year. The two
    officials discussed energy security and increasing the volume of gas transiting
    Romania towards Hungary. The Romanian official recalled that on December 17,
    Bucharest will host the signing of the agreement for the creation of the green
    energy corridor linking Azerbaijan to Central Europe. Bogdan Aurescu’s visit to
    Hungary marks a symbolic moment in bilateral relations between the two states,
    20 years since the signing in Budapest of the Declaration for the Strategic
    Partnership between the Government of Romania and the Government of the
    Republic of Hungary for 21st-century Europe, a fundamental mechanism
    that shaped cooperation between the two countries in the modern era.




    RECESSION – Romania’s Prime Minister,
    Nicolae Ciucă, on Tuesday said
    Romania is in no danger of facing an economic recession. On the contrary, according
    to current data, Romania might report an economic growth of 5% by the end of
    the year. Prime Minister Ciucă said the situation also depends on other
    economies Romania is cooperating with. It is important the Government
    takes measures to protect vulnerable categories of people, as well as to ensure
    the competitiveness of Romanian products, Nicolae Ciucă said. According to a Eurostat report published
    on Tuesday, Romania reported the highest economic growth rate at EU level in
    the third quarter compared to the second one of 2022, 1.3%. Our country also
    had the largest economic growth rate in the third quarter compared to the same
    period of last year, 4.7%.




    FORUM – Parliament is hosting the Salzburg
    Forum today and tomorrow, an event organized by the Interior Ministry. In the
    second half of 2022, Romania took over the presidency of the Forum, a regional
    mechanism for political consultation and multilateral cooperation. Specific
    panels will address hot topics such as managing the effects of the Russian
    aggression in Ukraine. Set up in 2000, the Salzburg Forum brings together
    Interior Ministers from Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Poland,
    Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary.




    COMMEMORATION – Brașov in central Romania is today
    hosting events marking 35 years since the anti-communist uprising of industrial
    workers. Screenings, solemn civil and religious ceremonies will be held on this
    occasion. In a solemn session on Monday, Parliament also commemorated the
    events of November 15, 1987. MPs said the workers displayed courage and
    dignity, arguing that their uprising weakened the communist regime and prepared
    the revolution of 1989.




    G20 – Russia’s aggression in Ukraine
    dominates the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, although the issue was not
    formally included on the summit’s agenda. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr
    Zelensky, earlier today called on G20 leaders to stand together as co-creators
    of peace in order to end Russia’s destructive war. The Ukrainian president
    addressed G20 leaders by videolink. The host country’s president, Joko Widodo,
    also called for putting an end to the war and argued against division in his
    opening address. We should not divide the world into parts. We must not allow
    the world to fall into another Cold War, the Indonesian official said. In
    turn, European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, accused Moscow of
    using natural gas as a weapon, preferring to flare it rather than sell it, in
    response to Western sanctions. Representing the Russian Federation is Foreign
    Minister Sergey Lavrov, who today held talks with the leaders of France and
    Germany regarding the conflict in Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of opposing any
    resolution. Minister Lavrov said Ukraine refuses to talk to Moscow and has
    advanced unrealistic peace terms.




    GLOBAL POPULATION – The United Nations has estimated global
    population to reach 8 billion people today, just 11 years after passing the
    7-billion milestone, the BBC reports. World population will reach 9 billion by
    2037, the UN has warned. Eight countries, give of which are in Africa, will
    account for half of this growth. At global level, the number of newborns has
    dropped dramatically. The UN says fertility went down in Europe and in parts of
    Eastern Asia, although not in Western Africa.




    HANDBALL – The Romanian women’s handball team is
    today playing Montenegro in the second game scheduled in Group 2 at the EHF
    European Championship hosted by Slovenia, North Macedonia and Montenegro.
    Tomorrow, Romania will play Germany. Romania needs to win both matches to
    advance to the semi-finals. In the first main group fixture, Romania defeated
    Spain. (VP)



  • July 18, 2022

    July 18, 2022

    Visit. The President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, will pay a formal visit to Romania on Tuesday, at the invitation of President Klaus Iohannis. The two leaders will assess opportunities to stimulate and strengthen sectoral aspects of bilateral cooperation in all areas of common interest, with a focus on political dialogue, home affairs, education, economic and trade. The agenda will also include an exchange of views on developments with a regional impact in the Middle East, the stage and prospects of the Peace Process, the security situation and the effects of Russia’s illegal and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine, a presidential communiqué reads. Also on Tuesday, President Iohannis will receive the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defense of Ireland, Simon Coveney.



    FAC. Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu is attending in Brussels a meeting of the heads of diplomacy of the EU member states – the Foreign Affairs Council, where he will plead for further supporting Ukraine, including by allocating a new financial tranche through the European Peace Facility. According to a statement from the MFA, Bogdan Aurescu will support the idea of maintaining pressure on Russia and strengthening the sanctions regimem against it. The head of the Romanian diplomacy will also present the latest measures adopted by Bucharest to facilitate grain exports from Ukraine, including the opening of new border crossing points, as well as Romania’s agreement for the transit of Chilia and Bâstroe canals by ships carrying grains under third country flags. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba will also give a video speech at the meeting. At the same time, the foreign ministers are to approve a political agreement to unblock the fifth tranche, worth 500 million euros, under the European peace instrument to finance the purchase of arms supplied to Ukraine. The debate comes in the context in which the European Commission proposed, on Friday, new sanctions against Russia, including a ban on Russian gold exports to the EU.



    Ambassador. Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca has today received Japan’s ambassador to Romania, Hiroshi Ueda. According to a Government communiqué, fundamental issues of bilateral relations were addressed, the Japanese side emphasizing the importance of updating the future framework of the Romanian-Japanese Strategic Partnership, in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and given Japan’s direct interest in the region, in supporting the humanitarian aid for Ukraine and the neighboring states, Romania and Poland in particular. Regarding bilateral projects, objectives were reviewed such as the construction of the bridge over the Danube in Braila, which is to be completed by the end of the year, and a metro line, which will be started soon, with Japanese management. The Romanian Prime Minister once again conveyed Romania’s condolences for the tragic death of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.



    Refugees. According to the Romanian Border Police Inspectorate, some 152 thousand people crossed Romania’s borders on Sunday. Of them, 11.100 were Ukrainian citizens. Since the war broke out in neighboring Ukraine, more than 1.6 million Ukrainian citizens have crossed Romania’s borders.



    Drought. This week, the Government of Bucharest starts preparing a longer-term strategy to combat drought, in the context in which the effects of climate change are increasingly affecting agricultural crops. The executive wants to use European money, but also money from the state budget to develop the irrigation system and to support farmers who have been affected by the drought. Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca has announced that an inter-ministerial commission has been set up to that end, which will start working this week.



    Wildfires. Part of Western Europe continued to fight devastating wildfires this weekend, a consequence of a heat wave that, according to meteorologists, could break several temperature records earlier this week. Record temperatures are expected in Portugal, France and the United Kingdom. In France, the red code alert for extreme temperatures has been activated in 15 departments and the orange code in another 51. Britain could have the hottest day today, with temperatures estimated to reach up to 41 degrees Celsius. The Met Office has issued a red heat warning in large parts of England, from York and Manchester to London and the south-east. In Spain, the heat wave that has hit the country for several consecutive days has so far killed more than 300 people, according to local media.



    Olympiads. Romanian students won four gold and one silver medal at the International Physics Olympiad, organized online by Switzerland and which brought together 369 competitors. They now rank second in the world, along with South Korea. The Chinese team won first place and the USA the third place. Romania’s mathematics team also won first place in Europe and fifth place in the world at the International Mathematical Olympiad in Oslo, with two gold and four silver medals. China and Korea came in first, followed by the United States and Vietnam. The competition in the Norwegian capital was attended by 105 countries. We recall that in May, the Romanian Olympic mathematics team won six medals and the first place in teams at the 39th edition of the Balkan Mathematical Olympiad which took place in Agros, Cyprus.



    Rugby. The Romanian rugby national team was defeated by the Uruguayan team 26-20, on Sunday, in a test match held in Montevideo. The South Americans thus got their revenge after the defeat a week ago, when the Romanians won 30-22. The national rugby team has already qualified for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, which will take place in France. It is part of Group B, along with South Africa, Ireland, Scotland and the Asia-Pacific qualifying team. (MI)


  • November 11, 2019

    November 11, 2019

    ELECTION – Acting President Klaus
    Iohannis, supported by the National Liberal Party, will face former Social-Democrat
    Prime Minister Viorica Dancila in the runoff for the
    presidential election, scheduled for November 24. According to data released by
    the Central Election Bureau, after counting 96% of the votes, Klaus Iohannis
    won 36.91% of the vote, followed by Viorica Dancila with 23.45%, the leader of
    Save Romania Union Dan Barna with 14.19% of the vote. The scores of the other
    11 candidates range between 0.1% and 9.%. The voter turnout at national level
    was 47.66%. In the Diaspora, where the vote started on Friday and lasted until
    Sunday evening, a record high of 675 thousand people cast their votes.




    DEFICIT – Romania’s trade deficit exceeded 12 billion euros in the first 9 months of the year, up by 2.1 billion
    as compared to the same period last year, the National Statistics Institute
    Reports. According to the latest data, exports accounted for 51.8 billion euros
    in the first 9 months of the year, a 2% increase compared to 2018, while
    imports stood at 63.8 billion euros, up by 5.1% compared to the same period of
    last year. Over January 1 – September 30, cars, transport equipment and other
    manufactured goods accounted for a great share of total exports and imports.




    REMEMBRANCE DAY – The day of veterans and fallen heroes, known internationally as
    Remembrance Day, is today being marked in military ceremonies held in Bucharest
    and garrisons across the country. Similar events are staged at the tombs and monuments
    devoted to Romanian soldiers. Remembrance Day is celebrated internationally on
    November 11, marking the armistice signed by Germany and the Entente in 1918,
    marking the end of the Great War. Also on this day in 2003, Iosif Silviu Fogoras
    died in Afghanistan, the first Romanian soldier KIA in theatres of operations.
    In 2014, on November 11, November 11 was declared Veterans’ Day in Romania, in
    recognition of the merit of all military personnel who took part in military
    actions.






    FRIGATE – The King Ferdinand frigate is
    taking part in a multinational anti-submarine military exercise, hosted by the
    Turkish Naval Forces in the Mediterranean Sea until November 20, the Naval Forces General Staff
    reports. The King Ferdinand crew will take part in specific training exercises
    in Turkey’s territorial waters and nearby international waters, alongside military
    from Bulgaria, Canada, Greece, Jordan, Italy, Mexico, Pakistan, Spain, the
    United States of America and Turkey. According to the Romanian Naval Forces,
    the participation of King Ferdinand helps boost interoperability between
    Romania and partner states, and fosters the Romanian Army’s professionalism at
    global level.




    FAC – The European Union Foreign
    Affairs Council is today convening in Brussels to discuss the Council’s
    response to the crisis in Venezuela, Turkey’s illegal drilling activities in
    the Eastern Mediterranean and the developments in Syria. As regards Venezuela,
    the Council imposed a series of sanctions against this country two years ago,
    considering the May 2018 election, when President Nicolas Maduro won a second
    term in office, lacked credibility. As regards Turkey’s illegal drilling in the
    Eastern Mediterranean, the Council has re-expressed its complete solidarity
    with Cyprus regarding the observance of its sovereignty and rights, as per
    international law. The Council will also call on Turkey to end its military
    campaign in northeastern Syria.


    (Translated by
    V. Palcu)

  • June 25, 2018

    June 25, 2018


    NO-CONFIDENCE – Thousands of Romanians went to the streets on Sunday evening, calling for the resignation of the Government led by Viorica Dancila. They are worried that the current executive, formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, might adopt, under an emergency decree, the changes brought to the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure, which have been adopted recently. These changes are the object of the no-confidence motion filed by the National Liberal Party, which is being read in parliament today and will be voted on Wednesday. The right wing opposition blames the Government for having destroyed the economy and the justice system. Also today, the Romanian MPs are to debate a simple motion filed by the Save Romania Union, which calls for the resignation of the Transport Minister Lucian Sova. He is accused of incompetence and of having blocked funding for the building of motorways in Romania.



    NATIONAL DEFENSE – The meeting of the Supreme Council of National Defense will be held on Wednesday, headed by the President Klaus Iohannis. The meetings agenda includes Romanias objectives for the NATO summit in Brussels next week and the Romanian Armed Forces that can be deployed for missions and operations abroad in 2019. A fresh NATO training mission in Iraq will be officially announced at the summit of the Alliance scheduled for July. Also, NATO wants to set up ground forces command units. Romania has already announced its intention to host such a command unit. Bucharests stand on the relation between the EU and NATO, a topic that will be approached at the summit, must also be established at the meeting of Romanias Supreme Council of National Defense.



    FAC – The Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu is today attending the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg. The EU foreign ministries will have a joint working session with the defense ministries, to assess the progress in security and defence. Also, the ministers will discuss the consolidation of the relationship between NATO and the EU, in the presence of the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Also today, Romania and Bulgaria will give briefings on the stage and prospects of EU-supported regional cooperation initiatives in the Black Sea Area.



    CVM – The European Commission is currently conducting a fresh evaluation under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism. For three days, a Commission delegation will analyze the impact of the changes brought to the justice laws and the criminal codes on the Romanian justice system. The Justice Minister Tudorel Toader has stated that a document was drawn up, highlighting the progress made by Romania.



    MOLDOVA – The Supreme Court of Justice of the Republic of Moldova (Romanias neighbor with a predominantly Romanian-speaking population) is today examining the appeal to the invalidation of the early elections for the office of mayor of Chisinau, issued by two lower courts. On June 3rd, the second round of mayoral elections was won by the representative of the pro-European opposition Andrei Nastase, who defeated the pro-Russia socialist Ion Ceban. The invalidation of the result of the election triggered large-scale protests across the country and reactions from the EU and the US, which have called for a transparent appeal procedure. In Bucharest, the Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu has warned that political tension might affect the republics stability, and the right-wing opposition has voiced support for Nastase. If Nastases win is not validated, Chisinau will have an interim mayor until the local elections due next year.



    MIGRATION – The European mini-summit on migration ended on Sunday in Brussels without any concrete measures being adopted. The leaders of the 16 participant countries agreed over the need to curb illegal migration and protect the European frontiers, but there was no consensus as to how that would be achieved. The German Chancellor Angela Markel stated that, unless solutions were found at the level of the EU, bilateral agreements will be proposed, while the Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte proposed the creation of international protection centers in the transit countries and sanctions against the EU countries that do not accept refuges. The Visegrad Group (made up of Hungary, Poland, the Check Republic and Slovakia) boycotted the meeting. New talks will be held at the European Council this week.



    BACCALAUREATE – The high-school graduation examinations – the Baccalaureate – have started in Romania today. Some 137,000 students are participating, in 440 examination centers across the country. Today was the day for Romanian language and literature examination. On Tuesday, students belonging to the national ethnic minorities will sit for the examination in their mother tongues, Wednesday is the compulsory specialty examination, and on Thursday students will be tested into a matter of their own choice. For the first time, the oral examinations were taken during the school year. The first results are to be posted on July 4th, and the final ones on July 9th.



    SCIENCE – Researchers from across the world are these days in Brasov, in central Romania, attending the International Nuclear Photonics Conference. Romania was chosen to host the second edition of this event, given that it is home to the most powerful laser in the world, which will be rendered operational next year. On Sunday, the participants discussed the applications of this technology, after they had visited the Magurele facility, near Bucharest. The first edition of the Conference was held in California in 2016.



    TENNIS – The Romanian tennis player Simona Halep remains no.1 in the world, according to the WTA rankings published on Monday. To Halep, its the 34th week as world leader. Next on the podium there come Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark and Garbine Muguruza of Spain. The top 100 includes another five Romanian tennis players: Mihaela Buzarnescu (28), Irina Begu (33), Sorana Cirstea (47), Monica Niculescu (59) and Ana Bogdan (63).


    (translated by Mihaela Ignatescu)

  • April 17, 2018

    April 17, 2018


    REVOLUTION CASE – Army prosecutors have today announced the extension of the interval for the criminal prosecution of the former president of the country Ion Iliescu to December 27-31, 1989, for which an endorsement of investigation is not necessary. Ion Iliescu has been summoned to the Prosecutor Generals Office to be informed about the start of his prosecution for crimes against humanity, in the 1989 Revolution Case. On April 13th, the current president Klaus Iohannis endorsed the start of the criminal prosecution of Ion Iliescu, of the former prime-minister Petre Roman and of the former deputy prime-minister Gelu Voican Voculescu in the Revolution Case. The three ex-officials are now being prosecuted and can be sent to court for crimes against humanity, allegedly committed between the 22nd and the 31st of December 1989, when they were holding positions in the National Salvation Front Council, which back then was holding both the executive and the legislative power. According to prosecutors, the armed incidents that occurred after December 22nd, in several towns and cities across Romania, are indicative of the fact that everything occurred as the result of a pre-established plan, aimed at helping the new leaders take over power and gain legitimacy. The three former officials, though, say they are innocent. According to official statistics, in December 1989 more than 1100 people were killed and more than 3000 were wounded, mostly after the arrest of dictator Ceausescu and his wife.



    BUCHAREST FORMAT – Bucharest is hosting the first parliamentary summit of the Bucharest Format (B9), attended by representatives of nine European countries and high ranking NATO officials. The summit is aimed at strengthening the role of national parliaments in the security and defense fields. The agenda of the event, which will last until Thursday, includes topics such as the future presence of NATO, the defense and deterrence posture, fighting terrorism, perceptions regarding the threats facing the participant countries and legislative consolidation in the defense field. The B 9 summit is aimed at conveying a unitary and coherent message concerning the strengthening of NATOs Eastern flank, ahead of the NATO summit to be hosted by Brussels in July.



    FAC – The EU foreign ministers, gathered in Luxembourg, have voiced support for all the measures aimed at preventing new chemical attacks against civilians in Syria and have called for a re-launch of the political process, aimed to put an end to the conflict. Attending the External Affairs Council, the Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu has stated that Romania firmly condemns the use of chemical weapons in any circumstances, especially against civilians. Talking about the prolonged crisis in Syria, Melescanu has drawn attention to the danger of a military escalation, which would have serious consequences in the region, and has called on all the parties involved to support the UNs efforts to find a political solution.



    SUMMIT – On May 4th, the Bulgarian city of Ruse will play host to an informal meeting of the presidents of Bulgaria, Austria and Romania, the countries holding successively the rotating presidency of the EU Council as of January 1st, 2018. According to the press office of the Bulgarian presidential administration, the three heads of state will debate topics of European interest, which are also among the priorities of the current Bulgarian presidency of the EU Council. The meeting in Ruse is an expression of the three countries political will to ensure a common stand with regard to the main topics on the EU agenda, such as the European prospects of the Western Balkans, the future of the cohesion policy and the interconnection of the energy networks in the region.



    PROTESTS – Hundreds of employees of the County Emergency Hospital in Craiova, south-western Romania, have today continued their protest against the drop in their incomes an said that, unless their claims are settled, they will start an all-out strike. Health-care employees in Iasi, in the north-east, and Resita, in the west, have also protested today against the new salary scheme used in the sector. On Monday, hundreds of employees with several hospitals in Bucharest and other cities across Romania came to the streets to protest against the 30% cap on bonuses, which has diminished their incomes significantly. The health minister Sorina Pintea has stated that the incomes have dropped only for 10% of the health-care staff and has explained that the bonus cap must be observed. Pintea has also said that hospital directors must manage their activities properly and provide the money for the existing gaps from the hospitals own funds.



    MUSIC AWARDS – On Monday, Radio Romania awarded the best Romanian music performers and the best pieces and albums recorded last year. The award for best female voice went to the pop singer Andra, and for best male voice to the soloist of the band Directia V, Cristi Enache. The rock band Vunk and the pop band The Motans won the awards for best rock and best pop artists respectively. The prize for best album and best singer of the year was won by Smiley, and the excellence award went to the pop-rock singer Dida Dragan.



    HANDBALL – The Romanian womens handball champions CSM Bucharest will learn today their opponents in the Final Four semifinals, following a drawing of lots. CSM Bucharest qualified on Sunday night for the so called Final Four of the Champions League, although it had lost 20-27 to the French from Metz, in a match away from home. In the first match, on home turf, CSM had won 34-21. The other three teams that have qualified for the Final Four are the current champion Gyor ETO of Hungary, HC Vardar of Macedonia and Rostov-Don of Russia. The semifinals and the final will be held on May 12 and 13, in Budapest, where the Romanian team won the competition back in 2016. (translated by Mihaela Ignatescu)




  • April 15, 2018 UPDATE

    April 15, 2018 UPDATE


    DNA – Early next week, Romanias president Klaus Iohannis will announce his decision regarding the request for the removal from office of the Chief Prosecutor of the Anti-Corruption Directorate Laura Codruta Kovesi. Recently, the head of state, who had previously voiced his trust in the chief prosecutor, has stated that his decision will take into consideration all the documents provided by both parties. In February, the Justice Minister Tudorel Toader asked for the dismissal of the anti-corruption chief prosecutor, accusing her of having exceeded her powers. The Higher Council of Magistracy has issued a negative opinion on the request.



    FAC – On Monday, the Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu will attend the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg. Dominated by the situation in Syria, the agenda of talks also includes topics such as the relations with Iran, the developments in the Western Balkans, the relationship between Brussels and Moscow and the EU financial instruments to be used within the Multiannual Financial Framework post-2020. The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini will inform the foreign ministers about the developments in Gaza and Venezuela.



    ATTACK – The US Ambassador to the UN Nikky Haley has stated that the United States will not pull out its troops from Syria until Washingtons goals are reached. In this way, she said, the US wants to make sure that no chemical weapons will be used in Syria, that the Islamic State will be defeated and the neighboring Iran will be closely monitored. In another move, Great Britain has stated it has no immediate plan to repeat Saturdays attack against installations and chemical weapons stores in Syria. The Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has warned, though, that the British will consider further action if the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad uses again chemical weapons against his own people. The statements were made after the US, Great Britain and France launched, in the early hours of Saturday morning, the largest attack against Syrian targets since the start of the civil war, in retaliation for the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Damascus regime.



    SYRIA – In a message on Twitter, president Klaus Iohannis says that Romania condemns the use of chemical weapons in Syria and stands by the actions carried out by its strategic partners. The Romanian Foreign Ministry too has reasserted its firm support for any effort made by the international community to stop the conflict in Syria. Also, a message posted on the Governments Facebook page reads that Romania supports the firm response of its strategic partners to the attack in Syria, which claimed victims among the civilian population.



    DIASPORA – The Minister for Romanians Around the World Natalia Intotero continues her visit to Spain. On Sunday she had meetings with Mrs. Amparo Marco Gual, the mayor of Castellon de la Plana, and with representatives of the Romanian associations in the Valencian community. According to a communiqué issued by the ministry, the high level of integration of the local Romanian community, which is not only the largest foreign community, but also the best articulated in Castellon, has been a major topic on the agenda of talks. There are some 20,000 Romanians living in Castellon de la Plana, out of some 52,000 living in the Castellon region. Also on Sunday, Natalia Intotero met with representatives of Romanian associations in the region, for talks on ways in which the Romanian Government could better support the Romanian communities in the Iberian peninsula, including non-reimbursable funding for projects aimed at preserving Romanian identity.



    VISIT – The Secretary of State Dan Neculaescu has met in Cernauti with representatives of the Romanian community in the region for talks on the situation concerning the rights of the Romanian community in Ukraine. According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, the Romanian official has also held talks with the leadership of the regional and local administration, and stressed the need for a sustainable solution for the Romanian communitys legitimate interest in benefiting from education in their mother tongue, at all levels. Other topics were also approached during the meeting, such as cross-border cooperation, for the benefit of both parties.



    HUNGARY – The central electoral committee of Hungary confirmed on Sunday the final results of the parliamentary elections held on April 8th. FIDESZ, headed by the nationalist prime-minister Viktor Orban, won 133 of the 199 seats. Second came the far right Jobbik party with 26, followed by the Socialists with 20. This is Orbans fourth term in office as prime-minister. Holding two thirds of the seats in parliament will allow him to change the constitution.



    SPOTLIGHT – Sunday was the last day of the Spotlight Festival in Bucharest, during which giant images were projected on emblematic buildings in Bucharest. This years edition, the fourth, was titled United We Shine and brought to Bucharest 27 installations, projections and video mapping sessions from France, Australia, Israel, Germany, China, Russia, Italy, Spain and Romania. For the first time at the Spotlight Festival, works of art were also projected on the facades of several buildings, including the Romanian Atheneum.



    HANDBALL – The Romanian womens handball champion CSM Bucharest on Sunday qualified for the Champions League Final Four, although it was defeated by the French team Metz 20-27, away from home, in the return game of the quarter finals. In the fist game, on home turf, the Romanians had won 34 to 21. The other teams that have qualified for the Final Four are the current European champion Gyor ETP of Hungary, HC Vardar of Macedonia and Rostov-Don of Russia. The semi-finals and the final will be held on May 12 and 13 in Budapest, where the Romanian team won the championship in 2016. On Saturday, SCM Craiova qualified for the final of the EHF cup, after a draw, 18-18, at home, with the Turkish team Kastamonu, in the decisive leg of the semi-finals. In the first game, the Romanians had won 23 to 22. This is Craiovas second participation in the European cups. In the final they will play against the Norwegians from Vipers Kristiansand.




  • European financial support for the Republic of Moldova

    European financial support for the Republic of Moldova

    For almost three decades now, since Chisinau proclaimed its independence from Moscow, Bucharest has been the most fervent supporter of Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Also, for more than ten years, Romania has firmly encouraged its neighbor’s European aspirations. Therefore, it’s no surprise that in Brussels on Monday the Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu chaired the meeting of the Group for European Action of the Republic of Moldova, held on the sidelines of the Foreign Affairs Council.



    The Group is an informal ministerial mechanism, established in January 2010, at Romania’s initiative, with support from France. The Group analyzed Chisinau’s European track, with focus on reforms and action priorities against the background of the implementation of the EU — the Republic of Moldova association agreement. Melescanu pleaded for a firm support from the EU member states and institutions for the Republic of Moldova’s European goals. Besides progress made in various fields, the Romanian minister stressed, additional efforts are still needed. Melescanu announced that in April the European Commission would transfer funds to Moldova, aimed at ensuring the latter’s macro-economic stability.



    In an exclusive statement for Radio Romania, the Foreign Minister stated that this aid is a form of validation of the reforms promoted by the pro-Western government in Chisinau. He also added that one of the Council’s conclusions concerned the freedom of the press in Moldova, given that Chisinau authorities are worried about the influence of the Russian language media. Teodor Melescanu:



    “The recommendation made was about ensuring the freedom of the media and at the same time finding means to hold the media accountable and raising their awareness as to the importance of promoting real, not fake news. Focus was also laid on the importance of increasing state institutions’ opposition against the fake news used to describe the relationship between the Republic of Moldova and the EU.”



    Teodor Melescanu’s statements referred to the new audio-visual law in the Republic of Moldova, the so-called ‘anti-propaganda law’, which restricts broadcasts by Russian TV channels. According to experts, the law is not a form of censorship or limitation of the freedom of expression, it’s just a means of curbing the anti-western propaganda that has invaded the Chisinau media, in particular against Romanians, often imbued with slander and apocalyptic rumors. Pundits say that the stake of such media campaign is both electoral and geo-political. Because, in the run up for the legislative elections due later this year, it only serves the interests of the pro-Russian president Igor Dodon, who has been openly pleading for giving up the European path and returning to Moscow’s sphere of influence. (Translated by M. Ignatescu)

  • January 22, 2018 UPDATE

    January 22, 2018 UPDATE

    CABINET – The ruling coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party-the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania (PSD- ALDE) convened in a session in Bucharest on Monday. The Social-Democrat leader, Liviu Dragnea, and the ALDE leader, Călin Popescu Tăriceanu, said the validation of the list of nominations for the new cabinet led by Social Democrat Viorica Dăncilă has been postponed for Friday. There will be no major changes in the governing program and the number of cabinet ministers will not be changed, the two leaders have said. The previous PSD – ALDE Government had 27 ministers, three Deputy Prime Ministers and two delegate ministers, apart from the Prime Minister. Meanwhile the opposition is taking action, the Liberals saying they will start talks with the other political parties and MPs to persuade them to vote against the new Cabinet. The Liberals aim to win as many votes as possible to prevent the new cabinet from being sworn in. Parliaments vote is scheduled for January 29.



    EU COUNCIL PRESIDENCY– The national document on the priorities of the Romanian presidency of the EU Council will be approved by September, at the latest. The announcement was made in Bucharest on Monday by the minister delegate for European Affairs, Victor Negrescu, fresh from a first meeting with his Finnish and Croatian counterparts, whose countries will hold the rotating presidency of the EU Council, after Romania. The three countries will prepare a common agenda with major topics that will be tackled in the Council over a period of 18 months. Romania will have its own six-month program, based on this agenda. The priority of Romanias mandate is preparing the European Parliament elections, scheduled for May 2019. Bucharest authorities want to adjust Romanias priorities depending on the evolution of key topics of EU interest, of which the most important are Brexit and the post-2020 multi-annual financial framework.



    FOREIGN AFFAIRS COUNCIL – Romanian foreign minister, Teodor Meleşcanu, on Monday
    participated in the Foreign Affairs Council meeting held in Brussels. According
    to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, the main issues on the agenda of talks were:
    Libya and the Middle East Peace Process. Meleşcanu underlined the need for a
    just and sustainable solution to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict and
    reiterated the appeal for unblocking the Peace Process and for the resumption of
    a direct dialogue between the
    sides. Also, the EU foreign ministers
    attended a working lunch, having Israeli president Mahmoud Abbas as honorary
    guest. The participants analysed ways
    in which the EU and the member states can support, in a constructive way, the
    re-launch of I    sraeli-Palestinian negotiations. The EU’s support for strengthening
    Palestinian institutions has been reiterated. On the sidelines of the Foreign
    Affairs Council meeting, a working breakfast was organised together with the
    President of the European Investment Bank, EIB, Werner Hoyer, who came up with
    the proposal of setting up an EIB development branch. The Romanian foreign
    minister has had bilateral meetings with the new foreign ministers of Austria
    and Poland.



    DEFENCE – Romanian defence minister, Mihai Fifor, on Tuesday will meet in Câmpulung Muscel (in the south) with military of the 30th Battalion “The Carpathian Eagles ahead of their new mission on the theatre of operations in Afghanistan. According to a communiqué issued by the Romanian Defence Ministry, between February and August 2018, the Romanian troops will carry out specific protection missions of the Kandahar Military Air Base force, as well as missions of training, counselling and assisting the Afghan National Forces. According to the same source, the troops from Câmpulung Muscel have proved that they can accomplish some of the most complex missions in the country and on theatres of operations, in Kosovo (in 2005 and 2007), and Afghanistan (in 2008). 627 Romanian military are currently taking action in Afghanistan.



    TENNIS – Romanias tennis player Simona Halep, no. 1 WTA, on Monday qualified to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, where she is seeded first. In the round of 16 she ousted Naomi Osaka of Japan, 6-3, 6-2. In the quarter-finals, Halep, the only Romanian woman tennis player still playing in the Australian Open main table will play against Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic, no. 6 WTA. Halep and Pliskova have met seven times so far, with the Romanian tennis player boasting five wins. In the womens doubles, tenth-seeded Irina Begu and Monica Niculescu are playing Jennifer Brady and Vania King of the United States in the quarter-finals on Tuesday. (Translated by D. Vijeu)

  • May 20, 2017 UPDATE

    May 20, 2017 UPDATE

    FAC — Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu will be leading the Romanian delegation at the Foreign Affairs Council and the Summit of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, which will take place on Sunday and Monday in Istanbul, Turkey. According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, the Summit is devoted to boosting economic cooperation at Organization level. At the same time, the Foreign Affairs Council is set to discuss documents that will be submitted for adoption at the upcoming summit.



    TRUMP –Donald Trump is as of Saturday in Saudi Arabia on his first external visit as US president. King Salman bin Abdulaziz has decorated president Trump with the highest distinction ever awarded to a civilian in Saudi Arabia, for his efforts to consolidate bilateral relations. On Sunday Trump will address leaders from over 40 Muslim countries as part of a summit devoted to the fight against radical organizations. The visit is part of an eight-day tour of the Middle East with the White House leader also expected to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories before reaching Europe, more precisely Brussels, the Vatican and then Sicily to attend the NATO and G7 summits.



    ELECTIONS IN IRAN — The president re-elect of Iran Hasnan Rohani has said he will promote greater openness for Iran on the international stage. Rohani won a second term in office after winning Friday’s first round of the presidential election, defeating his opponent, the Conservative Ebrahim Raisi. According to official results, Rohani grabbed 57% of the vote to Raisi’s 38,3%. Voter turnout stood at 73%. Pundits recall that Rohani’s first term in office was marked by the nuclear agreement reached two years ago with the world superpowers, drawing Iran out of isolation and lifting the sanctions suffocating the country’s economy. Still, the BBC writes that the religious supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei holds the real authority in this country, alongside the powerful Revolutionary Guards.



    MEETING — French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday is meeting Italian PM Paolo Gentiloni in Paris, two days ahead of the G7 Summit to be held in Sicily, southern Italy. The main topic on the agenda is the Paris agreement on climate change, at a time when US president Donald Trump, who is also to attend the summit, threatens the US will withdraw from this process, France Press reports.



    TENNIS — Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, ranked 4th in WTA standings, on Saturday defeated Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands, 20 WTA, in the semi-finals of the Rome tournament, totalling 2,7 million dollars in prize money. Aged 25, Halep defeated Bertens in straight sets, 7-5, 6-1. In the final match Simona will take on Elina Svitolina of Ukraine Last week Simona Halep won the WTA tournament in Madrid for the second year in a row. The final in Rome will be the 24th of Halep’s career, of which the Romanian won 15. (Translated by V. Palcu)