BORDER POLICE — The Romanian border police announced it would strengthen border control checks starting Friday. The documents of all people crossing the border will be cross-checked in national and international databases, therefore the authorities expect waiting times to spike. According to a press release, on April 7 the authorities will implement an amendment brought to the Schengen Borders Code, adopted by the European Parliament and the European Council, aimed at improving the security of the EU and its citizens. The Romanian border police says all measures have been taken to reduce waiting times and ensure functional border checks and is making efforts to ensure a balance between the security of citizens and border crossing flows.
DECREES — Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis today signed the two decrees for the appointment of the Ministers of the Environment and for Liaison with Parliament respectively. The swearing-in ceremony is due to take placer later today. The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, a junior coalition partner in the Government led by Social-Democrat Sorin Grindeanu, nominated Gratiela Gavrilescu for the position of Environment Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. Replacing Gavrilescu as the new Minister for Liaison with Parliament will be Viorel Ilie, also nominated by the Liberals and Democrats. One week ago the party leadership decided to withdraw political support for the party co-president, Daniel Constantin, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment, amidst tensions between him and the other co-president, Senate Speaker Calin Popescu-Tarcieanu.
FAC — Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu is today taking part in the Foreign Affairs Council meeting held in Luxembourg. The main topics on the agenda are Syria, Yemen and Libya. Talks will be held in presence of Arab League Secretary General Aboul Gheit. In addition, the meeting of the Group for Moldova’s European Action will be held on the sidelines of the meeting, at the initiative of Romania and France.
ELECTION IN SERBIA — The acting Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic on Sunday won the presidential election in Serbia. According to the Serbian Election Commission, Vucic grabbed over 55% of the vote, while the runner-up, current Ombudsman Sasa Jankovic, won only 15% of the vote. Seen as the new strongman of Serbian politics, Vucic is an ultranationalist turned pro-European Democrat. He pledged to support Serbia’s efforts to join the EU as well as maintain privileged relations with Russia. EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Johannes Hahn, has congratulated the president elect, whom he called a partner and a friend.
MILITARY EXERCISE — Three Romanian warships carrying 200 military onboard and three Turkish warships are taking part in the “Starfish” bilateral military exercise. The exercise is aimed at increasing interoperability between Romanian and Turkish naval forces. While docking in the port of Constanta, the Turkish military will also bring floral tributes to the Cemetery of Turkish War Heroes in Slobozia, southern Romania, and will visit the Museum of the Romanian Navy.
VAT — Tourism Minister Mircea Titus Dobre today said he would submit the necessary documents to the Finance Ministry with a view to cutting VAT to 9% for travel agencies. The Minister says the move will encourage local travel agencies and hopes for the price of travel packages to drop. Minister Dobre has warned it might take a while before travel agencies will benefit from the VAT slash, as the European Commission must sanction the move.
PROTESTS — The Moscow Police on Sunday arrested 30 people taking part in an anticorruption rally, the latest after last week’s large-scale protests. Radio Romania’s correspondent reports that opposition leader Aleksei Navalny, the organizer of last week’s protests, who was already placed under 15-day arrest for resisting arrest, says he is in no way connected to the latest protest. According to the Police, a thousand people protested on Sunday as compared to the nearly 100,000 people who protested on March 26. On Friday, several dozen Romanians protested before the Russian Embassy building in Bucharest, as a token of solidarity with the anticorruption protests in Russia.
ICE HOCKEY — Romania’s national hockey team on Monday is playing Belgium in Group A, second division, at the World Championship hosted by Galati, southeastern Romania. On Tuesday Romania will play Serbia, Iceland on Thursday, Australia on Friday and Spain on Sunday. Last year in Zagreb, Romania ranked last in Group B, first division, and was relegated to Group A, second division.
WEIGHTLIFTING — Monica Csengeri and Elena Ramona Andries of Romania won five medals on Sunday, of which one gold, at the European Weightlifting Championships in Split, Croatia. In the 48 kg category in the snatch event, Csengeri won gold while Andries grabbed bronze. In the clean and jerk event, Csengeri won silver. In the combined total event, Csengeri won silver while Andries got bronze. Romania’s delegation at the European Championships totals 13 athletes. (Translated by V. Palcu)
