Radio România Internațional

Tag: funds

  • Measures for the education system

    Measures for the education system


    On Monday most schools in Romania will open for a new school year. In other words they are in the green scenario, which involves the physical presence of students in school. This is not the case of Bucharest though, where the epidemiological situation and the big number of pupils in a class have imposed the yellow scenario, with part of the pupils going to school and the others studying online from home. There are schools across Romania which will not open their gates to pupils as they are in the red scenario, which means online education alone.



    Depending on the evolution of the pandemic, things can change for the better or for the worse. Many new cases of infection have been reported daily during the summer, which fueled parents’ and teachers’ worries related to the beginning of the new school year. The specific problems created by the virus overlap the chronic ailments of the education system.



    One of the biggest weakness of the education system is the lack of proper equipment. The authorities are now pressed to remedy the situation. The government increased the budget of the Education Ministry by 20 million Euros taken from the budget reserve fund to finance the National Program ‘Safe Education’.



    The head of the Chancellery of the PM Ionel Dancă explained how the money would be used: “We allotted the money necessary for School Inspectorates to purchase laptops, sanitary materials and electronic devices as well as web cams and tablets, to allow the teaching staff to hold classes online if the epidemiological situation requires it.”



    The government also adopted a memorandum which provides for connecting to the Internet a number of 3,150 schools as well as a decision for the employment of 500 persons in the pre-university education system, both teaching and non-teaching staff. The situation was created by the great number of retirements reported, as many teachers who were older than 60 opted for retirement in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The local authorities have to hire medical staff in the school health office and the Health Ministry will provide money for their salaries.



    The opposition Social Democratic Party accuses the government of failing to properly prepare the new school year from the point of view of health safety and of failing to support the local authorities in organizing the teaching process so as to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.



    The first vice-president of the PSD Sorin Grindeanu: “4 days ahead of the beginning of school, the government has not complied with its obligations, although they could have done that during the summer. There are no tablets, no face masks, no tests for the teachers and also no textbooks in many schools.”



    According to Grindeanu at present 26% of the schools do not have the infrastructure for Internet access. We recall that Romania is in full election campaign for the local elections due on September 27. (tr. L. Simion)

  • July 23, 2020

    July 23, 2020

    COVID-19 The large number of new coronavirus infections over the past few days in Romania prompted authorities to raise the alarm about the healthcare situation. The National Public Health Institute urges citizens to observe basic protection rules, including proper face covering and physical distancing, along with strict hand hygiene. On Thursday the Strategic Communication Group reported a record-high rate of COVID-19 infection in 24 hours, 1.112 new cases out of over 20,000 tests. The total number of cases in 5 months has exceeded 40,000. Over 5,500 patients are hospitalised, with nearly 300 in intensive care. Authorities also reported 25 new deaths, bringing the total death toll to over 2,126.



    NATO The Cincu Training Centre in central Romania is today hosting a ceremony devoted to the establishment of NATOs Headquarters Multinational Division South-East. Attending the event are president Klaus Iohannis, defence minister Nicolae Ciucă, and chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Daniel Petrescu. A drill involving nearly 1,000 troops and 200 vehicles will follow the ceremony. The exercise is designed to improve the integration and performance of complex military actions. The NATO Headquarters Multinational Division South-East has been set up in order to coordinate the structures deployed in this region, security strategy expert Alexandru Grumaz explained for Radio Romania. Over 400 high-ranking officers from various NATO member countries will work in Sibiu starting this autumn. With the establishment of the headquarters, NATOs entire south-east European flank will be coordinated from Sibiu, retired general Alexandru Grumaz said.



    ECONOMY Accessing European funds was the key topic of Wednesday nights Government meeting in Bucharest, which focused on legislation facilitating the countrys economic recovery. The Cabinet also discussed options to grant non-reimbursable loans to SMEs and entrepreneurs, both for investments and working capital. Funds will also be granted to limited liability companies without employees, to self-employed professionals, cultural NGOs and to family physicians who treated COVID-19 patients. Another bill concerns the provision of funds for SMEs to lease equipment and tools. The 80 billion euros earmarked by the EU for Romania will be spent for national reconstruction, president Klaus Iohannis said prior to the Cabinet meeting, after a discussion with PM Ludovic Orban. The money will come from 2 sources, the EU 2021-2027 multiannual budget and the post-COVID-19 recovery fund. The first source will cover ongoing projects, and the money will be accessed under a national plan which is virtually ready, the head of state explained. The EU economic recovery plan provides access to 34 billion euros for Romania, especially in non-reimbursable funds and also in low-interest loans.



    EU The European Parliament convenes today in a special session devoted to the multiannual budget and the economic recovery plan, endorsed on Tuesday by the EU leaders. Attending the session will be the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the Council president Charles Michel. Political groups in the EP have agreed on a resolution to be adopted by Parliament. MEPs will ask for clarifications regarding the connection between accessing EU funds and the rule of law, after this issue was left unanswered by the EU leaders at this weeks summit, the EP president David Sassoli said on Wednesday, quoted by Reuters. He added that the multiannual budget must be able to cover the main challenges facing Europe in the medium run, such as the green deal, digitisation, economic vulnerabilities and fighting inequities. Previously, EU leaders agreed on setting up a European recovery fund worth 750 billion euros and on the Unions budget for 2021-2027, amounting to 1,074 billion euro, but their official statement includes no reference to making access to funds conditional on observing the rule of law.



    FOOTBALL The Bucharest-based club FCSB last night won the Romanian Football Cup, after defeating Sepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe 1-0 on neutral ground in Ploieşti. FCSB thus booked its place in the Europa League qualifiers, alongside another Romanian team, FC Botosani. The national football championship is also drawing to an end, after being suspended in March over the coronavirus pandemic and resumed last months. Topping the charts is CSU Craiova, followed by defending champions CFR Cluj. All football matches in Romania are played without public access. (translated by: Ana Maria Popescu)

  • March 27, 2020 UPDATE

    March 27, 2020 UPDATE

    COVID-19 Romania – In Romania, the National Public Health Institute has updated the COVID-19 testing algorithm. Therefore, tests will be made on the people who travelled abroad, close contacts of the confirmed cases who show symptoms, the medical and sanitary staff showing symptoms and the cases of pneumonia, from all age categories and from all hospitals. The latest figures issued by the authorities point to 1292 cases of infection and 25 deaths. 115 people have recovered. In the Diaspora, 11 Romanian citizens have died following infection with COVID-19, mostly in Italy. According to the PM Ludovic Orban the main objective is to protect the health and life of the citizens and to contain the spread of the virus and increase diagnostic capabilities.



    Funds – Romania believes that the EU needs to show increased flexibility and provide adapted solutions to respond more efficiently to the increasing needs in the healthcare system and to combat the economic effects of the progressive spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a communiqué of the Ministry for European Funds, Romania participated on Friday in the summit of the EU members and of the EC regarding the newly created Investment Initiative for combating the coronavirus, held as a video conference and chaired by the Croat presidency of the Council of the EU. The initiative provides for specific measures. Romania intends to use European funds to support, among others, the people who are in technical unemployment, the employees of companies whose activity was affected, the essential health programs and services, temporary employment of medial staff, and to purchase medical devices.



    COVID – 19 Europe – The President of the EP David Sassoli said Friday that he expected EU leaders to show increased responsibility during Thursday’s teleconference summit, adding that the EU was more than the sum of national governments. At the summit of the 27 EU countries, it was decided to postpone looking into ampler measures against the economic consequences of the pandemic. The Italian PM Giuseppe Conte threatened not to sign a joint declaration if the EU did not adopt special measures. The officials of the 27 members have agreed to come up with proposals in 2 weeks’ time. At global level the number of COVID-19 infections has exceeded 550 thousand and the number of deaths is beyond 25 thousand. In Italy, in the past 24 hours, a record number of deaths, almost 1,000, has been reported. (update by L. Simion)

  • Fighting fraud in EU spending

    Fighting fraud in EU spending

    Romania reported the largest number of frauds involving European funds of the member countries in 2014-2018, reads a report issued by the European Commissions Anti-Fraud Office, OLAF. More precisely, 477 frauds were reported in the past 5 years, accounting for nearly one-third of the total number of frauds investigated at EU level. Romania is followed by Poland, Hungary and Italy. At the opposite pole, countries like Belgium, Luxembourg and Malta reported one fraud each during the same period.



    Romania also ranks among the first in terms of the total amount of misappropriated funds. According to OLAF, Romania comes second, with frauds amounting to over 62 million euros, as against payments of around 14 billion euros made by the EU to Romania during these 5 years. First ranks Poland, with frauds amounting to some 110 million euros, followed by France, Bulgaria, Italy and Hungary.



    As for last year, Romania once again reported the largest number of frauds involving EU funds, i.e. 114. The amount was over 18 million euros, again one-third of the amount embezzled at EU level. Whereas in Poland, the country with the highest fraud amount, the number of misdeeds dropped considerably, in Romania the number of offences rose from one year to the next, OLAF emphasised.



    In fact, the European authorities announce that on the whole the number of frauds against the EU budget has dropped, but it has concentrated and increased in a small number of states. Thus, irregularities identified in 7 member countries (Italy, Romania, Portugal, Spain, Bulgaria, France and Lithuania) exceed 70% of the total number of offences reported last year at EU level. Also, the OLAF report emphasises that in 2018 the offences identified in only 2 countries, Romania and Italy, accounted for 61% of the total number of frauds EU-wide. The incidents were reported mostly in the field of agriculture and rural development funding.



    EU budget frauds are expected to decrease in the coming years, given that the European Public Prosecutors Office is scheduled to become operational at the end of 2020. The institution will be in charge with investigating, prosecuting and bringing to justice crimes against the EU budget, such as fraud, corruption offences or cross-border VAT frauds in excess of 10 million euros. The EPPO will be headed by the Romanian Laura Codruta Kovesi, endorsed last month by both the European Parliament and the EU Council. So far 22 member states joined the EPPO network, including Romania.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • The EU slashes funds for the Republic of Moldova

    The EU slashes funds for the Republic of Moldova

    In 2014, the Republic of Moldova was unanimously seen as a winner of the Eastern Partnership, a program through which the EU is trying to promote the values of democracy and prosperity in the former Soviet space. The Eastern Partnership also includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia and Ukraine. Alongside Tbilisi and Kiev, Chisinau subsequently signed association and free trade agreements with Brussels, thus legitimising their openly stated ambitions of European integration.



    But then it all went wrong in the small republic with a majority Romanian-speaking population, and the discourse of the EU partners related to the Moldovan power has grown harsher. After repeated warnings, on Tuesday, Brussels announced officially its decision to suspend macro-financial aid to the Republic of Moldova, worth 100 million Euros, due to serious infringements of the democratic principles.



    The head of the European Commission Delegation to Chisinau, Peter Mihalko, has shown that, in the past year, Chisinau was present on the agenda of the EU exclusively for negative reasons. He mentioned 2 resolutions of the European Parliament, the conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Council made public in February and the concerns expressed on repeated occasions by EU high officials. Mihalko added that the EU was expecting concrete results from the Republic of Moldova in the fight against high-level corruption, including the punishment of those guilty for the enormous fraud in which around one billion dollars vanished into thin air from the Republics banking system.



    According to the European official quoted by Radio Romanias correspondents to Chisinau, another sensitive moment was this summers supreme court ruling that invalidated the elections for the mayor of Chisinau. The ballot that had been won by a former pro-European civic activist Andrei Nastase, against the pro-Russian Socialist Ion Ceban.



    Peter Mihalko: “The EU is maintaining its commitment to Moldovas European integration and political association. We are waiting to see if the Moldovan authorities observe the commitments made and the basic principles of our relationship, especially in relation to democracy and the rule of law. When we dont see sufficient progress and any political will to achieve real results, then the EU has to take strict measures and introduce strict conditions in exchange for the aid.



    A recent opinion survey conducted in the Republic of Moldova shows that 48% of the interviewees believe the Republic of Moldova should join the EU and only 37% favour the Eurasian Economic Union dominated by Russia. Analysts say that the parliamentary elections scheduled for February 24, 2019 are going to be decisive both for the political and geopolitical future of the Republic of Moldova. The elections are expected to settle the race between pro-Russians and pro-Europeans and also to bring a new administration, truly determined to fight corruption and observe the norms of democracy.


    (translated by: Lacramioara Simion)

  • Romania and the European Funds

    Romania and the European Funds

    The European Commission proposes an additional ten percent worth of European funds for Romania, Bulgaria and Greece over 2021-2027. European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Corina Cretu, on Monday made the announcement at a Bucharest conference on cohesion policy, which provides for European funds to also be allocated for countries that are far below the European average in terms of development. Commissioner Cretu has again pointed out that the Romanian authorities do not apply for the funds available in Brussels, destined to such important areas as the transport or health infrastructure. Thus, during the current multiannual financial framework, Romania has lost 1.8 – 2 billion Euros out of the total 19.5 billion Euros allocated. Romania can absorb 31 billion Euros, including the funds for agriculture, Corina Cretu has said.


    She explains: “It is very important for European citizens in every country to know what has been done with those funds and what can be done in the future, all the more so as we have to cope with an anti-European language which becomes increasingly conspicuous. I think Romania cannot afford the luxury of even thinking about the idea of leaving the EU, particularly now when it is about to take over the presidency of the EU Council which gives it the opportunity, as an EU leader for six months, to change things for the better from the inside.”



    Also on Monday, the European Commissioner had talks with Prime Minister Viorica Dancila and with the Ministers of European Funds and Health, Rovana Plumb and Sorina Pintea respectively. She made it clear that she wanted to know if the Romanian Government still plans to use European funds to build regional hospitals in Cluj, central Romania, Iasi in the East and Craiova in the South-West or whether those hospitals would be erected under a public-private partnership. According to a Government press release, solutions for the construction of the three regional hospitals were already identified during those talks.



    The discussions also focused on the absorption of European funds for the transport infrastructure, Corina Cretu giving assurances that she will grant Romania all the necessary support. This has been the European Commissioner’s first meeting with political officials in Bucharest after this month she said she regarded the lack of infrastructure projects for which Romania could get community funds as an offense.



    A Romanian herself, a member of the Social-Democratic Party herself, supported by the former Social-Democrat leader and prime minister, Victor Ponta, to become an MEP, Corina Cretu had become quite critical of the current Bucharest government headed by Viorica Dancila. At the time, the media speculated that the cold relationship between the Commissioner and her colleagues at home might also have political grounds. Next year, she concludes her term in office as European commissioner and the Social-Democratic Party has not even proposed her as a candidate for the European Parliament election due next May.eaLTH

  • September 13, 2018 UPDATE

    September 13, 2018 UPDATE

    Venice Commission — The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday received in Bucharest the visit of a Venice Commission delegation, which will come to an end on Friday. President Iohannis said that he appreciated the Commission’s technical expertise as well as the importance of their opinions in relation to both the justice laws and the Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes. The Romanian President also highlighted that the involvement and support of the Venice Commission experts are meant to help Romania have an efficient and modern legislation. In turn, the Venice Commission experts said the opinion of the Commission related to the modifications brought to Romania’s Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes would be adopted during the plenary session of October 19-20. The opinion of the Commission was asked by the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly. The agenda of the Venice Commission delegation also includes talks with the justice minister Tudorel Toader, among others, and with representatives of the High Court of Cassation and Justice, of prosecutor’s offices and civil society. Promoted by the majority coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, the legislative changes were virulently criticized by the rightwing opposition, the press and NGOs that accuse the power of intending to stop the anti-corruption fight and to subordinate magistrates.



    Visit — The European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan is in Romania for two days, starting on Thursday, where he will be visiting Bucharest and Cluj Napoca in the northwest. In Bucharest, Commissioner Hogan met with PM Viorica Dancila who asked the EC for full technical and financial support to reduce the impact of the African swine fever crisis on Romanian pig farming. Phil Hogan said that 75% of the pigs grown in households within the EU are in Romania and that the EC intends to grant financial aid to help the Romanian farmers affected by the swine fever crisis. Also on Thursday the European official met with the Romanian Agriculture Minister Petre Daea as well as with members of the Committees for European affairs and for agriculture and rural development in Romania’s Parliament. Together with the European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu, who is also on an official visit to Romania, Phil Hogan, on Friday will have a dialogue with the citizens of Cluj Napoca with the theme ‘A modern budget for a stronger EU’.



    EU funds — The European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu is visiting Romania until September 18. During her visit she will be meeting with the representatives of the local and regional authorities, will assess certain EU-funded projects and will participate in high level conferences. On Wednesday Corina Cretu visited Sibiu, on Thursday she went to Petrosani alongside the Romanian minister for European funds Rovana Plumb to attend a conference that analyzed the present and future of coal mining in the context of the transition to renewable energy.



    Bucharest New Delhi direct flight — On Thursday the speaker of the Romanian Senate Calin Popescu Tariceanu received the new Indian ambassador to Romania Thanglura Darlong. CP Tariceanu congratulated the Indian ambassador on his appointment and wished him success in fulfilling his mission. During the talks the speaker of the Romanian Senate highlighted the importance of high level visits as well as of delegation exchanges in such domains as the economy, culture, technology and science and academic education. He also showed interest in re-establishing a direct flight linking Bucharest to New Delhi in order to boost trade exchanges and tourism, shows a Senate communiqué.



    Swine fever — The African swine fever is spreading in Romania. According to the National Sanitary — Veterinary and Food Safety Authority, 207 localities from 12 counties are currently affected. The number swine fever outbreaks reached almost 900. The presence of the swine fever virus in Romania was confirmed for the first time on July 31, 2017. So far, more than 232 thousand pigs affected by the virus have been culled. PM Dancila announced that the government will pass an emergency decree under which all employees of the pig farms affected by the crisis that lost their jobs will receive money compensations for 6 months at the most.



    EP — The situation in Romania will be debated in the plenum of the European Parliament in the first session of October and in the second session, later that month, a resolution will also be passed, the Romanian MEP Siegfried Muresan announced on Thursday. He added that the debates were asked by the Greens/ European Free Alliance after the violent repression of the antigovernment protests of August 10 in Bucharest and that Romania’s PM Viorica Dancila was invited to attend the session. The debates on the rule of law in Romania were approved by the Conference of Presidents, whose members are the leaders of the political groups in the European Parliament. (news translated by Lacramioara Simion)

  • February 24, 2018 UPDATE

    February 24, 2018 UPDATE

    EU BUDGET – EU funding, particularly the cohesion and the agriculture funds, might be lowered by up to 15% in the next EU multi-annual budget, beginning 2020 when the UK will no longer be a member. The announcement was made by the president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker on Friday, at the end of an informal meeting of EU leaders. He added that 15 out of 27 member states were willing to raise their national contributions to the common budget. President Klaus Iohannis said at the meeting that Romania was open to the idea of contributing more than 1.1% of the GDP instead of 1%, so that the current levels of the cohesion and Common Agricultural Policy funding be maintained, which countries like Romania need in order to bridge the gaps in social and economic development compared to Western Europe. EU leaders have agreed that the Union must spend more on defence and security, for the Erasmus education programme and for curbing illegal migration. The President of the European Council Donald Tusk has announced that EU leaders are willing to step up negotiations on the next multi-annual financial framework, but that an agreement is unlikely to be reached this year.



    GRECO – The Romanian Justice Minister, Tudorel Toader, this week had a meeting in Bucharest with a delegation of the Group of States against Corruption – GRECO, which traveled to Romania for an emergency assessment of the new justice laws in respect of the fight against corruption. The talks focused on the amendments to the justice laws and the practical consequences that they may have on the judiciary. The GRECO team also had meetings with representatives of other governmental agencies, the legislative power and the judiciary, as well as of relevant NGOs. GRECO said, at the end of the talks in Bucharest, that those in charge of investigating, prosecuting and trying corruption offences should benefit from adequate independence and autonomy, including in terms of disciplinary mechanisms. The delegation recommended that Bucharest requested the opinion of the Venice Commission regarding the planned judicial reform.



    EDUCATION – Over 70 foreign education institutions are attending this weekend the 28th World Education Fair in Bucharest. Last year over 6,000 young Romanians chose to further their education abroad. Most of them went to Britain, the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany and Spain.



    THE FLU – In Romania, 53 people have died from the flu this season, according to the latest report issued by the National Infectious Disease Monitoring Centre. The number of cases exceeds 800, with most of the flu patients reported in the capital city Bucharest, followed by the counties Constanta (south-east), Olt (south), Braşov (centre) and Iaşi (noth-east). The Healthcare Minister, Sorina Pintea, says we cannot speak about flu epidemic in Romania at the moment.



    LOAN – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is giving out a loan of 60 million euro for the construction of a new gas pipeline crossing Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Austria (the BRUA pipeline), to support the regional European energy markets, the international financial institution announced in a news release. The funds will be given to Transgaz, the company building the Romanian segment of the gas pipeline. Totalling 1,318 km in length, the new European gas corridor will ensure better interconnection of the countries on its route, and will support the energy market enabling new connections with major infrastructure projects. The deputy PM Viorel Ştefan says the signing of the loan agreement between the EBRD and Transgaz on Friday in London is a confidence signal sent to investors with respect to business opportunities in Romania.



    MILITARY – The Kandahar military base in southern Afghanistan Saturday hosted a ceremony to transfer authority from the Romanian Battalion 280 Infantry, Fearless Hearts, to Battalion 30 Mountain Troops, the Carpathian Eagles. For one month, the members of the two task forces conducted joint missions to enable the Mountain Troops to take over each segment of the theatre of operations. Among other things, the Romanian military are conducting land patrol missions on an area of 1,200 sq km, assisted by drones operated by the American partners and working together with the Afghan forces. Kandahar is Afghanistans second-largest town after the capital city Kabul. The area managed by the Romanian troops is densely populated, and threats are significant, the Radio Romania envoy reports. Analysts expect this summers parliamentary election to strengthen the Taliban presence in the region. A suicide attack by the Islamic State group in Kabul has killed 3 and wounded 5 people on Saturday.



    EUROVISION – Romanias representative in the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest held in Portugal will be chosen by the public on Sunday, by televoting. Fifteen songs will be competing in the final in Bucharest. The motto of this years edition was ‘Eurovision unites Romania!’. The Eurovision is an international music competition organised by the European Broadcasting Union, the largest association of public television broadcasters in Europe, and has been aired for 60 consecutive years. Romanias best performances so far have been the 2 third places (in Kiev, 2005, with Luminiţa Anghel & Sistem and in Oslo, 2010 with Paula Seling and Ovi) and a 4th place won by Mihai Trăistariu in 2006, in Athens.




    COLD WAVE – Weather experts warn that Romania will be facing a cold wave for several days. Temperatures are expected to go down to lows of 20 degrees below 0, and stay at levels 10-15 degrees Celsius below multi-annual average figures. Strong winds will be adding to the low temperatures, while snowfalls will be reported mostly in the south, centre and south-west of the country. The cold front will be in place until around March 1st.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • February 24, 2014

    February 24, 2014

    PROTESTS – Around 100 people Friday picketed the Government headquarters, protesting against the leftist Social Democratic Party in power and against its Justice Minister, Tudorel Toader. It was the second night of protests since Toader announced he formally asked for the dismissal of the chief prosecutor of the National Anti-corruption Directorate, Laura Codruţa Kovesi. In a report covering the activity of the institution between February 2017 and February 2018, Minister Toader criticised Mrs. Kovesi for an excessively authoritarian management style, her involvement in cases investigated by the Directorate and the failure to investigate prosecutors suspected of abuse. The Justice Minister also claimed the DNA chief defied Parliament and challenged rulings made by the Constitutional Court. The request for dismissal has been forwarded to the Superior Council of Magistracy, which must be consulted on the matter, but the decision is in the hands of President Iohannis. On Friday President Klaus Iohannis reiterated his support for Laura Codruţa Kövesi. Backed by the parliamentary majority, made up of the Social Democrats and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania, Toaders report was strongly criticised by the right-wing opposition.




    GRECO – The Romanian Justice Minister, Tudorel Toader, this week had a meeting in Bucharest with a delegation of the Group of States against Corruption – GRECO, which traveled to Romania for an emergency assessment of the new justice laws in respect of the fight against corruption. The talks focused on the amendments to the justice laws and the practical consequences that they may have on the judiciary. The GRECO team also had meetings with representatives of other governmental agencies, the legislative power and the judiciary, as well as of relevant NGOs. GRECO said, at the end of the talks in Bucharest, that those in charge of investigating, prosecuting and trying corruption offences should benefit from adequate independence and autonomy, including in terms of disciplinary mechanisms. The delegation recommended that Bucharest requested the opinion of the Venice Commission regarding the planned judicial reform.




    EDUCATION – Over 70 foreign education institutions are attending this weekend the 28th World Education Fair in Bucharest. Last year over 6,000 young Romanians chose to further their education abroad. Most of them went to Britain, the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany and Spain.




    EU FUNDING – EU funding, particularly the cohesion and the agriculture funds, might be lowered by up to 15% in the next EU multi-annual budget, beginning 2020 when the UK will no longer be a member. The announcement was made by the president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker on Friday, at the end of an informal meeting of EU leaders. He added that 15 out of 27 member states were willing to raise their national contributions to the common budget. President Klaus Iohannis said at the meeting that Romania was open to the idea of contributing more than 1.1% of the GDP instead of 1%, so that the current levels of the cohesion and Common Agricultural Policy funding be maintained, which countries like Romania need in order to bridge the gaps in social and economic development compared to Western Europe. EU leaders have agreed that the Union must spend more on defence and security, for the Erasmus education programme and for curbing illegal migration. The President of the European Council Donald Tusk has announced that EU leaders are willing to step up negotiations on the next multi-annual financial framework, but that an agreement is unlikely to be reached this year.





    MILITARY – The Kandahar military base in southern Afghanistan has today hosted a ceremony to transfer authority from the Romanian Battalion 280 Infantry, Fearless Hearts, to Battalion 30 Mountain Troops, the Carpathian Eagles. For one month, the members of the two task forces conducted joint missions to enable the Mountain Troops to take over each segment of the theatre of operations. Among other things, the Romanian military are conducting land patrol missions on an area of 1,200 sq km, assisted by drones operated by the American partners and working together with the Afghan forces. Kandahar is Afghanistans second-largest town after the capital city Kabul. The area managed by the Romanian troops is densely populated, and threats are significant, the Radio Romania envoy reports. Analysts expect this summers parliamentary election to strengthen the Taliban presence in the region. A suicide attack by the Islamic State group in Kabul has killed 3 and wounded 5 people today.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • February 24, 2014

    February 24, 2014

    PROTESTS – Around 100 people Friday picketed the Government headquarters, protesting against the leftist Social Democratic Party in power and against its Justice Minister, Tudorel Toader. It was the second night of protests since Toader announced he formally asked for the dismissal of the chief prosecutor of the National Anti-corruption Directorate, Laura Codruţa Kovesi. In a report covering the activity of the institution between February 2017 and February 2018, Minister Toader criticised Mrs. Kovesi for an excessively authoritarian management style, her involvement in cases investigated by the Directorate and the failure to investigate prosecutors suspected of abuse. The Justice Minister also claimed the DNA chief defied Parliament and challenged rulings made by the Constitutional Court. The request for dismissal has been forwarded to the Superior Council of Magistracy, which must be consulted on the matter, but the decision is in the hands of President Iohannis. On Friday President Klaus Iohannis reiterated his support for Laura Codruţa Kövesi. Backed by the parliamentary majority, made up of the Social Democrats and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania, Toaders report was strongly criticised by the right-wing opposition.




    GRECO – The Romanian Justice Minister, Tudorel Toader, this week had a meeting in Bucharest with a delegation of the Group of States against Corruption – GRECO, which traveled to Romania for an emergency assessment of the new justice laws in respect of the fight against corruption. The talks focused on the amendments to the justice laws and the practical consequences that they may have on the judiciary. The GRECO team also had meetings with representatives of other governmental agencies, the legislative power and the judiciary, as well as of relevant NGOs. GRECO said, at the end of the talks in Bucharest, that those in charge of investigating, prosecuting and trying corruption offences should benefit from adequate independence and autonomy, including in terms of disciplinary mechanisms. The delegation recommended that Bucharest requested the opinion of the Venice Commission regarding the planned judicial reform.




    EDUCATION – Over 70 foreign education institutions are attending this weekend the 28th World Education Fair in Bucharest. Last year over 6,000 young Romanians chose to further their education abroad. Most of them went to Britain, the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany and Spain.




    EU FUNDING – EU funding, particularly the cohesion and the agriculture funds, might be lowered by up to 15% in the next EU multi-annual budget, beginning 2020 when the UK will no longer be a member. The announcement was made by the president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker on Friday, at the end of an informal meeting of EU leaders. He added that 15 out of 27 member states were willing to raise their national contributions to the common budget. President Klaus Iohannis said at the meeting that Romania was open to the idea of contributing more than 1.1% of the GDP instead of 1%, so that the current levels of the cohesion and Common Agricultural Policy funding be maintained, which countries like Romania need in order to bridge the gaps in social and economic development compared to Western Europe. EU leaders have agreed that the Union must spend more on defence and security, for the Erasmus education programme and for curbing illegal migration. The President of the European Council Donald Tusk has announced that EU leaders are willing to step up negotiations on the next multi-annual financial framework, but that an agreement is unlikely to be reached this year.





    MILITARY – The Kandahar military base in southern Afghanistan has today hosted a ceremony to transfer authority from the Romanian Battalion 280 Infantry, Fearless Hearts, to Battalion 30 Mountain Troops, the Carpathian Eagles. For one month, the members of the two task forces conducted joint missions to enable the Mountain Troops to take over each segment of the theatre of operations. Among other things, the Romanian military are conducting land patrol missions on an area of 1,200 sq km, assisted by drones operated by the American partners and working together with the Afghan forces. Kandahar is Afghanistans second-largest town after the capital city Kabul. The area managed by the Romanian troops is densely populated, and threats are significant, the Radio Romania envoy reports. Analysts expect this summers parliamentary election to strengthen the Taliban presence in the region. A suicide attack by the Islamic State group in Kabul has killed 3 and wounded 5 people today.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • Romania, Poland share views on European funds

    Romania, Poland share views on European funds

    Romania and Poland are against making the disbursement of European funds to member states conditional on the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary in those respective countries, the two foreign ministers said in a joint statement made in Bucharest on Thursday.



    Teodor Melescanu and Jacek Czaputowicz thus answered a question regarding messages coming from Brussels, according to which the allocation of community funds to certain states might be influenced by possible changes in the justice system. European funds are not a favor, and both Romania and Poland contribute to the extent of their capacity to the EU budget, said Minister Melescanu:



    Teodor Melescanu: “In my opinion, this would be a gross infringement not only of the provisions of the EU Treaties but also of the fundamental principles of the EU, whose main objective is to ensure solidarity and convergence between the economies of member states. Obviously, the cohesion policy and the common agricultural policy are instruments aimed at boosting convergence between the economies of the more developed countries of the EU and our countries. It is by no means an act of charity.



    Professor Iulian Chifu, the president of the Conflict Prevention Center, has commented on the issue:



    Iulian Chifu: “These are two half answers. The Romanian Foreign Minister is right when he talks about the purpose of these funds, which are meant for the less developed countries, with lower capacity and competitiveness, and are designed to help them develop and reach the European average level or the level of important European countries. On the other hand, failure to observe the criteria of the rule of law, of the independence of the judiciary and of the fight against corruption raises questions regarding the usefulness of these funds.



    In the case of Poland, the messages sent by Brussels are even harsher than those sent to Romania so far. The violation of the rule of law and of the independence of the judiciary might trigger the activation of Article 7 in the EU Treaty, which entails the suspension of Warsaws right to vote in the European Council. Minister Melescanu also expressed Bucharests stand in this regard:



    Teodor Melescanu: “Our interest and wish is to avoid by all means a vote that would not help anybody and would only create unnecessary problems.



    According to the Polish Foreign Minister, Jacek Czaputowicz, Poland has received signals from other states, such as Hungary, that they will not vote for the activation of Article 7. The Polish official also underscored that, should Poland identify instances of EU institutions not treating EU countries in the region properly, it would defend them. But it seems that nobody in Bucharest wants this to happen.

  • Reconstruction after extreme weather phenomena

    Reconstruction after extreme weather phenomena

    Ten counties in the west and centre of Romania, hit by powerful storms over the past few days, are to receive the equivalent of nearly 8 million euros in public funds. This is a first instalment of the aid pledged by the Government, and it will cover the costs of emergency repair works on public buildings.



    Deputy PM Sevil Shhaideh made the announcement: “We are talking about over 36 million lei for repair works on 16 hospitals, 23 clinics, more than 251 schools and other public education units, police stations, churches and other public buildings.”



    In the weeks to come, depending on the assessment reports received from local authorities, further funds will be earmarked from a special natural disaster intervention fund. Last Sunday, a storm that lasted no more than 15-20 minutes ravaged 15 counties in the west, north and centre of the country, killing 8 people and injuring 140 others. In over 200 towns and villages, the strong wind, sometimes exceeding 120 kmph, knocked down hundreds of trees and electricity poles, tore roofs and billboards and tipped over vehicles. Power outings were reported and localities were left without running water, while road and railway traffic was disrupted. The most severely affected area was Timis County, in the west.



    Last Sunday’s events disconcerted the authorities, who feared that similar occurrences would be reported on Wednesday and Thursday, when most of the country was swept by storms. The damages were smaller this time, but three more people died.



    Facing extreme weather phenomena, Romania must get a high-performance citizen alert system, as other European countries have. This is why PM Mihai Tudose said that twice a week deputy prime minister Marcel Ciolacu would have meetings with officials of the National Communications Authority, the Emergency Response Inspectorate, the Special Telecommunications Service and the 4 mobile telecoms operators in the country, in order to put together such an alert system.



    PM Mihai Tudose: “Meetings are held by deputy PM Ciolacu with National Communications Authority, the Emergency Response Inspectorate, the Special Telecommunications Service and the 4 mobile operators, to implement a system that we named RoAlert, designed to disseminate in due time any warning against phenomena that threaten people’s lives. Such alerts will be sent automatically to people’s mobile phones.”



    According to experts, as a consequence of global warming, extreme weather phenomena with very short warning times may become common in the near future.

  • Funding for local development

    Funding for local development

    In the past years, many local investments have been made under the National Local Development Programme. Hospitals, clinics, schools and roads have been built or refurbished with money from this fund. Despite its obvious advantages, the programme has divided Romanian officials in two: happy and unhappy mayors, beneficiaries or applicants eliminated from the programme’s list, often because of political reasons.



    Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis himself has stated that Romanians must all become aware of the need for a coherent and responsible policy, which must go beyond any political bias, because all the measures taken under this development programme are taken with the goal of first and foremost benefiting Romania’s citizens.



    On Wednesday, the Romanian Regional Development Minister Sevil Shhaideh presented the objectives funded under the National Local Development Programme, which has entered its second stage: libraries, museums, theatre, public squares and sporting facilities. Out of the 13,000 project applications submitted so far, 6800 have been selected on the basis of transparent criteria and without taking into consideration any political interests.



    Here is Local Development Minister Sevil Shhaideh: “In keeping with the governing programme, we have stated we will fund 9,500 objectives, of which 2,500 nurseries and kindergartens, 2,000 schools that need a functioning license, a health and safety license or must undergo refurbishment works in order to be able to function at European standards. Another 5,000 projects will focus on our targets in fields such as water and waste water management or road infrastructure.”



    30 billion lei have been earmarked for all these investments, the equivalent of some 7 billion Euros. The money will also come from Brussels, where the EC approved 270 million worth of investments in Romania, under the EU Cohesion Fund. Thus, 27 million Euros will be spent in Botosani, northeastern Romania, for expanding and modernizing the current drinking water supply system and the wastewater management system.



    For similar projects, the counties of Hunedoara and Timis, in the southwest will get 11 million Euros each. The largest amount will be spent on capital Bucharest’s outskirts, where the EU will invest some 200 million Euro to clean and improve the wastewater collection system, which serves 1.5 million inhabitants. We should also mention the money that the European Investment Bank has lent Romania: 1 billion Euros to co-fund top infrastructure projects in the field of transportation, worth a total of 6.8 billion Euros.



    The projects are to be implemented over the 2014-2020 programming period. According to the European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu, the development of the strategic transport network will benefit trade and tourism and will fuel the economy. Equally important will be the benefits of faster connections and safer roads and transportation systems for citizens.

  • June 23, 2017 UPDATE

    June 23, 2017 UPDATE

    EUROPEAN COUNCIL – The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, mentioned at a press conference after the summer meeting of the European Council in Brussels that highly important topics had been discussed, related to defence, security, migration, the digital agenda, economy and climate change. The Council approved the launch of PESCO, a collaborative defence structure, and decided to extend the economic sanctions against Russia by another 6 months. The European Council also agreed to work more closely with the online industry and called on social network owners to prevent the dissemination of content inciting to terrorism. As regards Brexit, President Klaus Iohannis said that both the EU 27, and the UK agreed on the need for sequenced approach in negotiations, meaning that talks on the future cooperation should only be held after the “separation issues, like citizens, money and Ireland, have been resolved. On behalf of Romania, President Klaus Iohannis pleaded for close cooperation between member states with respect to security, and for the creation of EU structures that are complementary to, rather than parallel with those of NATO.



    MOLDOVA – The strategic dialogue between the Republic of Moldova and the USA has been re-launched in Chişinău, 25 years since the two countries established diplomatic relations, announced at a joint briefing the Moldovan Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Integration Andrei Galbuş, and the Deputy Assistant State Secretary Bridget Bring, who is on a visit to Moldova. In Brussels, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the situation in the Republic of Moldova should be closely monitored by the EU. She said that at a meeting of the European Peoples Party, where she discussed with the former presidential candidate Maia Sandu, a pro-European reformist defeated in last years election by the pro-Russian Socialist Igor Dodon. Also in Brussels, the Romanian MEP Andi Cristea said Dodons statements have nothing to do with reality and are an example of political irresponsibility. Co-chair of the EU-Moldova association committee in the European Parliament, Cristea denied Dodons statement that around half of the European funds earmarked for Moldova were stolen in Chişinău. Dodon wants the free trade and association agreements between the EU and Moldova cancelled, and pleads for his countrys joining the Eurasian Union.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • Differences and Decisions in Malta

    Differences and Decisions in Malta

    The EU must find partners to solve the migration issue as far away as possible from the Schengen area, said the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk in Malta. At the informal meeting of the European Council, called by Donald Tusk after the EU-Africa summit, Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis underlined the need for additional efforts and better cooperation of the member states, towards ensuring a more effective control on the EU’s external borders.



    The European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker voiced discontent over the pace of refugee relocation within the EU. According to Juncker less than 150 people have been relocated in the past weeks, out of a total of 160,000 that the EU is supposed to transfer from Italy and Greece to other European countries. Junker said, ironically, that “ if we continue at that rate, we will be there by 2101”, adding that the EU must speed up the process.



    The extraordinary European Council was marked by disagreements among member states over the way in which the refugee crisis should be handled, but also over the financial aid that should be granted to Turkey. The heads of state analyzed the way in which the agreed measures regarding migration have been implemented so far. Sweden has temporarily introduced border checks to deal with the ongoing inflow of migrants. Slovenia has decided to build a fence on the EU’s external border in Croatia. Previously, Hungary took a similar measure.



    According to Donald Tusk, saving the Schengen free movement area, affected by such measures, is a race around the clock. He has explained that the Schengen area depends on the implementation of the measures adopted so far, including the action plan agreed on at the summit in Malta. This plan must be implemented by the end of 2016, and provides, among other things, for facilitating the return to Africa of migrants who do not qualify for being granted asylum. The plan also establishes a pilot project for the setting up of a Nigerian-European investigation team that should track down migrant trafficking networks.



    Referring to this issue, Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis stressed the need for a strong EU-Africa partnership, with EU and African countries acting together to identify common solutions to fight illegal migration. The EU announced the setting up of a 1.8 billion Euro trust fund for Africa, to which member states are invited to contribute, in order to double the amount. The contributions promised by member countries, however, are far from being enough. Romania will contribute an additional 100,000 Euro.



    (Translated by: M. Ignatescu / Edited by: E. Enache)