Radio România Internațional

Tag: Interpol

Combaterea finanţării terorismului

Riscurile de
spălare a banilor și de finanțare a terorismului reprezintă o preocupare majoră
pentru sistemul financiar al UE și pentru securitatea cetățenilor săi. UE are
în vigoare norme mai stricte în materie de combatere a spălării banilor. Aceste
norme îngreunează ascunderea fondurilor ilegale prin straturi de
societăți fictive și consolidează controalele asupra țărilor terțe cu grad
ridicat de risc. Normele consolidează, de asemenea, rolul autorităților
de supraveghere financiară și îmbunătățesc accesul la informații și schimbul de
informații. Cu toate acestea, normele trebuie să se adapteze în permanență
pentru a face față riscurilor generate de inovarea tehnologică – cum ar
fi monedele virtuale, creșterea integrării fluxurilor
financiare pe piața internă, dimensiunea mondială a organizațiilor
teroriste sau ingeniozitatea infractorilor pentru a exploata lacunele ori
problemele din sistem. Criminalii ucid oameni pentru că vor bani. Teroriştii vor
bani pentru a putea ucide oameni.

Luarea de bani de la terorişti previne
atacurile și salvează vieţi, a apreciat, recent, comisarul pentru afaceri
interne, Ylva Johansson. Oficialul european a oferit mai multe amănunte
despre lupta împotriva finanțării terorismului:

Pentru a combate finanțarea terorismului, trebuie să
facem mai multe lucruri. Trebuie să ne asigurăm că există capacitatea de a
investiga. Ceea ce înseamnă pregătirea oamenilor în sectorul privat, dar și în
unitățile de informații financiare, poliție și autorități judiciare.
Anchetatorii trebuie să învețe să folosească noile tehnologii, software și
hardware.

De asemenea, trebuie să pregătim
oameni din afara Europei, în Africa de exemplu. Combaterea finanțării terorismului
este o luptă globală. De aceea trebuie să lucrăm cu parteneri de pe tot globul.
Și trebuie să învățăm cum să lucrăm cu toate părțile implicate, inclusiv cu
serviciile de informații, Europol și Interpol.

Colaboram cu mult succes cu
Statele Unite în programul de urmărire a finanțării terorismului de mai bine de
treisprezece ani. Într-o
perioadă de trei ani, acest lucru a produs aproape 60.000 de piste pentru
investigații pentru statele membre și Europol, oferind astfel informații-cheie
despre plătitorii terorii și declanșarea investigațiilor. Așa cum s-a întâmplat
și în cazul atacului de la Viena din 2020, în care un trăgător a ucis cinci
persoane. Trezoreria SUA a furnizat aproape 240 de indicii, determinând
investigații asupra organizațiilor non-profit suspectate că sprijină Hamas.

Comisarul
european a mai spus că Europol are un nou mandat, care îi permite să colaboreze
direct și cu companii private. Și acest lucru va deschide multe oportunități
noi. Europol sprijină, de asemenea, în mod direct investigațiile statelor
membre, prin centrul său de criminalitate cibernetică. Din 2017, UE a finanțat
proiecte de combatere a finanțării terorismului cu peste 7 milioane de euro din
fondurile de securitate.

RadioRomaniaInternational · Alo Bruxelles – 11.10.2023

11 October 2023
01.06.2023 (mise à jour)

Grève – Le
gouvernement roumain a approuvé jeudi, par décret d’urgence, des majorations
salariales de 1000 lei pour le personnel enseignant et de 400 lei pour celui
non -enseignant. L’acte normatif couvre les sollicitations publiques des
syndicalistes de l’Education nationale, a affirmé la ministre de tutelle, Ligia
Deca. Et elle d’ajouter que ces hausses salariales représentent une mesure à
effet immédiat, en vigueur à partir du 1 juin, tandis que celles stipulées dans
la loi des salaires seront mises en place par étapes. Une majoration de 40% à
partir du 1 janvier 2024, suivie par deux tranches égales en 2025 et 2026. A
son tour, le ministre du Travail, Marius Budai, a affirmé que les négociations
avec les syndicats se poursuivent après que les protestataires ont annoncé
continuer la grève après le pont de la Pentecôte orthodoxe.

Chisinau -
Présent à la deuxième édition du sommet de la Communauté politique européenne,
le chef de l’Etat roumain, Klaus Iohannis, a réitéré jeudi l’importance du
soutien accordé à l’Ukraine, un pays en proie aux attaques impitoyables de Moscou.
Et Iohannis de déclarer qu’à force d’accueillir ce sommet, sur son territoire,
la République de Moldova démontre sa vocation européenne et les efforts qu’elle
fait pour intégrer l’UE. Iohannis a salué la présence à la réunion du leader de
Kiev, Volodimir Zelensky et a précisé que le soutien accordé par Bruxelles à
Chisinau devrait être encore plus visible. La consolidation de ce pays signifie
également le renforcement de la résilience stratégique de l’Europe, a apprécié
le leader de Bucarest. La réunion se déroule en présence d’une cinquantaine de chefs
d’Etat et de gouvernement des pays européens. La Communauté politique
européenne est une formation intergouvernementale de débat et une plateforme de
coordination politique entre les pays européens avec pour but la promotion du
dialogue politique et de la coopération pour le renforcement de la sécurité, de
la stabilité et la prospérité européennes. L’initiative de mettre en place une
telle communauté appartient au leader français, Emmanuel Macron. La CPE s’est
réunie pour la première fois en octobre dernier, à Prague.

Réseau – Une
ample opération de l’Interpol, du Frontex et de l’Europol, sous la coordination
de l’Autriche et de la Roumanie, menée contre les traficants d’être humains a
permis l’arrestation en mai de plus de 200 suspects et l’identification de plus
de 1400 victimes des réseaux criminels de 44 pays. 130.000 policiers et
douaniers ont contrôlé plus d’un million 500.000 personnes, des centaines de
milliers de véhicules et plus de 8500 courses aériennes. Les perquisitions
menées en Roumanie ont débouché sur le démantèlement d’un réseau de travail
forcé. Selon un rapport de la CE, sur les 7000 femmes exploitées annuellement
dans l’UE, 3000 sont d’origine roumaine.

Enfants – Plus
de la moitié des enfants de Roumanie souhaitent quitter le pays pour vivre
ailleurs, peut-on lire dans un rapport élaboré par l’organisation Sauvez les
enfants et rendu public le 1 juin, journée de l’Enfance. Le document met en
lumière l’ampleur de l’abandon scolaire et du phénomène des enfants qui vivent
sans leurs parents, partis travailler à l’étranger. En plus, la Roumanie est le
pays européen qui repertorie le plus grand nombre de femmes devenues mères
avant 18 ans. La pauvreté touche de nombreux enfants roumains dont un nombre
impressionnant souffrent d’anxiété et de dépression. L’étude montre aussi que
presqu’un quart de mineurs roumains âgés de moins de 17 ans ont au moins un
parent parti travailler à l’étranger. Les parents de plus de 72000 enfants
roumains travaillent dans d’autres pays.

1 June 2023
11.05.2020

Coronavirus en Roumanie – Le gouvernement roumain se penche aujourd’hui sur le projet de loi concernant les mesures de déconfinement qui seront mises en place à partir du 15 mai, quand l’état d’urgence sera remplacé par l’état d’alerte. Selon le bilan le plus récent des autorités, 15.500 personnes sont testées positives au Sars-Cov-2, dont plus de 7.200 ont guéri et 972 sont décédées. Quant aux Roumains de la diaspora, plus de 2.750 ont été dépistés positifs, la plupart d’entre eux en Italie, en Espagne et au Royaume-Uni, et 100 ont perdu la vie.

Politique – Les députés roumains débattent aujourd’hui la motion de censure
simple initiée par le Parti social-démocrate, en opposition, contre le ministre
des Finances Florin Cîţu. Selon les sociaux-démocrates, depuis les six mois qu’il
occupe le fauteuil de ministre ou depuis le début de l’état d’urgence, M. Cîţu
n’a pris aucune mesure pour éviter un désastre économique en Roumanie. Le
ministre des Finances, rajoutent-ils, a failli soutenir de manière efficace le
milieu des affaires et doit démissionner. La motion sera soumise au vote
mercredi. Par ailleurs, le ministre de la Santé Nelu Tătaru est invité à
présenter, devant la Chambre des députés, les mesures mises en place jusqu’à
présent pour luter contre l’épidémie de coronavirus. La ministre du Travail Violeta
Alexandru et le ministre des Affaires étrangères Bogdan Aurescu devront, quant
à eux, présenter devant les commissions spéciales du Sénat un rapport sur les
mesures de protection à l’encontre des travailleurs saisonniers partis à
l’étranger en pleine pandémie de Covid-19.

Déficit – Le déficit commercial de la Roumanie s’est établi à 4,46 milliards
d’euros au premier trimestre, en hausse de 732,4 millions d’euros par rapport à
la même période de 2019, selon les données de l’Institut national de la
statistique. Depuis le début de l’année et jusqu’au 30 avril dernier, les exportations
ont baissé de 2,6% pour arriver à 17,07 milliards d’euros, et les importations,
de 21,52 milliards d’euros au total, ont augmenté de 1,3%.

Rapatriements – 85 ressortissants roumains ont été rapatriés hier pendant la nuit
depuis l’Arabie Saoudite. Un vol spécial Bucarest-Riad-Bucarest a affrété en ce
sens par la compagnie aérienne nationale Tarom. Les efforts des ministères roumains des
Affaires étrangères, des Transports et de l’Intérieur ont facilité également le rapatriement de trois
citoyens serbes et de quatre citoyens hongrois, qui ont continué la route vers
leurs pays respectifs après l’atterrissage à Bucarest. Le ministère des Affaires
étrangères renouvelle à cette occasion ses appels vers la population pour
éviter tout voyage non essentiel à l’étranger en cette période.

Criminalité – Le secrétaire général d’Interpol, Jürgen Stock, met en garde contre
une hausse dramatique du commerce illégal de produits médicaux contrefaits au
moment où un vaccin ou un traitement efficace contre le coronavirus verraient
le jour. Dans une interview accordée à l’agence de presse allemande DPA, Jürgen
Stock déclarait que des équipements de protection personnelle non certifiés,
notamment des masques, étaient déjà présents sur les marchés, tout comme des gels
hydro-alcooliques de contrefaçon. Les criminels se sont rapidement adaptés au
nouveau contexte, ils exploitent les peurs et les préoccupations des gens, a
souligné encore le secrétaire général d’Interpol. C’est surtout la
cybercriminalité qui augmentera, étant donné que de nombreuses personnes
travaillent depuis chez elles. De manière générale, la pandémie pourrait faire
augmenter la criminalité mondiale sur le long terme, car une partie des gens privés
de moyens financiers pourraient se tourner vers la criminalité, estime l’officiel.

Météo – Il fait beau et très chaud en Roumanie aujourd’hui, avec des maximales
qui vont de 19° à 32°. L’on signale quelques pluies en montagne et des vents
plus forts en altitude, sur le centre, l’ouest et le sud-est du pays. Il faisait
26° à midi dans la capitale, Bucarest.

11 May 2020
Les effets de la falsification des médicaments

Près de 10% des médicaments produits dans le monde sont falsifiés. C’est ce que constate l’Organisation mondiale de la santé (OMS). Sans doute, chaque pays en est concerné à sa manière. Cette situation engendre non seulement un énorme manque à gagner pour l’industrie pharmaceutique, mais elle met aussi en danger les personnes qui achètent les médicaments contrefaits. Selon l’OMS, sur l’ensemble de l’industrie pharmaceutique, le taux des contrefaçons est à la hausse pour plusieurs raisons, dont la nature toujours plus complexe des chaînes d’approvisionnement, le développement du commerce électronique ou encore l’absence de sanctions.

Vu cette croissance dramatique des contrefaçons, plusieurs réglementations ont été imposées afin de protéger la chaîne officielle d’approvisionnement. Et, bien que les pays occidentaux ne soient pas trop touchés par ce phénomène, des mesures ont été prises pour identifier et suivre la traçabilité des biens. D’ailleurs, la directive européenne sur la sécurité des médicaments vient d’entrer entièrement en vigueur. Parmi les nouvelles mesures, mentionnons l’obligation d’inscrire sur les boîtes de médicaments un code spécial censé prévenir la contrefaçon. De même, il est recommandé d’éviter de vendre les médicaments à l’unité. Explication avec Dumitru Lupuleasa, professeur des universités et président du Collège des Pharmaciens de Roumanie: « Le producteurs font de longues recherches pour fabriquer des médicaments qui soient efficaces mais aussi sûrs pour ce qui est de leur administration, c’est-à-dire qu’ils ne produisent pas d’effets secondaires. Le médicament falsifié est réalisé par d’autres moyens que ceux officiels, et donc il ne respecte pas les normes selon lesquelles le médicament original avait reçu l’autorisation de mise en vente dans un pays ou une région. D’où vient cet intérêt pour falsifier les médicaments ? Au moment où les médicaments ont un prix trop élevé sur le marché, il est plus rentable de les remplacer, même si cette action n’est ni morale, ni saine. Et au moment où l’on a constaté que les cas de substitution de ces produits se sont multipliés dans l’UE, on a adopté cette directive qui rassure le patient et qui lui garantit que les produits achetés sont sûrs. »

Les médicaments contrefaits sont devenus un véritable problème dans l’UE, pour des raisons évidentes, explique Dan Zaharescu, directeur exécutif de l’Association roumaine des producteurs internationaux de médicaments : «Il y avait clairement des manquements au niveau de la chaîne standard de distribution des médicaments, ce qui a laissé la possibilité aux contrefaçons de pénétrer le marché. Or, l’objectif de cette directive est justement de rassurer les patients quant à l’origine du médicament qu’ils achètent dans les pharmacies. Nous ne parlons pas des risques sciemment assumés par ceux qui vont acquérir des médicaments ailleurs que dans les pharmacies, qu’il s’agisse des réseaux actifs sur internet ou encore d’autres sources qui échappent à tout contrôle. Dans ce dernier cas, l’on parle d’un risque majeur ».

Prévenir les contrefaçons appelle toute une série de mesures de sécurité, à commencer par l’emballage, selon les responsables européens. La directive européenne des médicaments falsifiés impose l’utilisation d’éléments de sécurité, tels un numéro de lot et un dispositif anti-manipulation, qui devront figurer sur l’emballage extérieur des médicaments. Ils permettront aux pharmaciens de vérifier, avant de le délivrer, si le médicament est authentique et n’a jamais été ouvert, afin de ne pas vendre un produit falsifié. A partir du 9 février 2019, nul fabricant ne pourra plus mettre en vente des médicaments qui ne soient sécurisé de la sorte. En scannant le code lors de la vente du médicament, le pharmacien vérifie automatiquement la validité de la série du lot, la sécurité de son origine. L’application informatique renseigne le pharmacien de ces éléments, et ce n’est qu’après que le médicament sera fourni au patient. Plus encore, chaque boîte doit être scellée et munie d’un élément de sécurité qui empêche l’ouverture de la boîte avant sa mise en vente. C’est d’une garantie d’authenticité supplémentaire.

Ces mesures interviennent au moment où la Commission européenne, Interpol, Europol et les agences nationales compétentes ont saisi au fil des ans nombre de médicaments falsifiés et qu’ils ont dû fermer des centaines de sites de vente en ligne de ces médicaments contrefaits. (Trad.: Valentina Beleavschi /Ionut Jugureanu)

9 August 2019
Consecinţe ale falsificării medicamentelor (reluare)

Până la 10% din medicamentele produse pe
plan global sunt contrafăcute, arată estimările Organizației Mondiale a
Sănătății, iar fenomenul afectează fiecare țară în parte. Situația nu provoacă
doar o mare pierdere de profit pentru industria farmaceutică, dar reprezintă și
un pericol pentru persoanele care achiziționează aceste medicamente
contrafăcute. Potrivit OMS, procentul contrafacerilor din întreaga industrie
farmaceutică continuă să crească din cauza mai multor factori – natura tot mai
complexă a lanțurilor de aprovizionare, extinderea comerțului electronic și
lipsa capacității de executare și sancționare. Odată cu această creștere
dramatică a falsurilor de bunuri industriale și de consum, s-au stabilit
diverse regulamente cu scopul de a proteja lanțul oficial de aprovizionare.

Şi
deși în țările occidentale rata contrafacerilor nu este deosebit de mare, s-au
adoptat reglementări care servesc la identificarea, detectarea și urmărirea
bunurilor. Recent, directiva europeană care cuprinde măsuri
pentru siguranţa medicamentelor a intrat deplin în vigoare. Între prevederile
noi se numără aceea de a fi inscripţionat pe cutiile medicamentelor un cod
special, care să preîntampine falsificarea. De asemenea, a fost făcută recomandarea
ca medicamentele să nu se mai vândă la bucată.

Invitat la Radio România, profesorul
univesitar Dumitru Lupuleasa, preşedintele Colegiului Farmaciştilor, explică: Producătorii fac cercetări
îndelungate astfel încât să ajungă la descoperirea unor medicamente care să
aibă, pe de o parte, eficacitate, iar pe de altă parte, să aibă siguranţă în
administrare, în sensul de a nu genera efecte secundare. Vorbim despre
medicamente falsificate atunci când un medicament se realizează prin alte căi,
prin alte mijloace decât cele oficiale, şi atunci nu îndeplineşte standardele
pe baza cărora medicamentul respectiv a primit autorizaţia de punere pe piaţă
într-o ţară sau într-o regiune. Cum a apărut interesul pentru a falsifica
medicamente? Atunci când medicamentele au o anumită valoare mare de piaţă, a
substitui, a înlocui cu altceva devine rentabil pentru cei care au astfel de
preocupări, care nu sunt nici morale, nici sănătoase. Constatându-se că în UE
au apărut cazuri mai frecvente de substituiri de astfel de produse, adică
produse care nu sunt conforme, a apărut această directivă, care să asigure
pacientul, în sensul ca produsele care ajung la el să fie produse sigure.

Dan
Zaharescu, director executiv al Asociaţiei Române a Producătorilor
Internaţionali de Medicamente, despre condiţiile în care medicamentele
falsificate au ajuns să fie o problemă în interiorul Uniunii Europene Erau nişte fisuri în lanţul comercial
standard al medicamentelor care permiteau asemenea pătrunderi de produse
contrafăcute. Scopul acestei directive este tocmai de a asigura pacientul că în
clipa în care primeşte din mâna farmacistului un medicament acel medicament
este unul autentic. Nu vorbim acum de riscurile pe care şi le asumă pacienţii -
şi acestea sunt nişte riscuri care ar trebui să fie conştientizate – achiziţionând
medicamente din alte surse decât farmaciile, respectiv de pe internet, din
surse care nu sunt controlabile prin canalele oficiale prin care ar trebui să
circule medicamentele şi care îi expun pe pacienţi la cele mai mari riscuri.

Prevenirea falsificărilor necesită o abordare
complexă, un element-cheie fiind ambalajul securizat – este premisa de la care
a pornit demersul european. De aceea, Directiva
Europeană a Medicamentelor Contrafăcute impune folosirea unor elemente de
siguranță obligatorii, pe exteriorul ambalajelor de medicamente: prezența unei
serii unice pentru identificarea și autentificarea produselor individuale, și a
unei modalități de sigilare care permite verificarea vizuală a tentativelor de
manipulare frauduloasă. Astfel, începând cu 9 februarie 2019, niciun producător
de medicamente nu mai poate să pună pe piaţă medicamente care nu sunt
serializate. Aceasta înseamnă că fiecare cutie de medicamente trebuie să aibă
un cod unic, aşa cum oamenii au CNP-uri, care se regăsesc într-o bază de date
europeană.

În clipa în care farmacistul eliberează un asemenea medicament către
pacient, când îl scanează pentru a-l introduce în bonul fiscal, face automat şi
o verificare a valabilităţii seriei medicamentului respectiv. Dacă aplicaţia
informatică îi spune că medicamentul este curat, este sigur, el îl poate
elibera către pacient. Mai mullt decât atât, fiecare cutie serializată trebuie
să aibă şi un sigiliu, un autocolant sau un element care să împiedice
deschiderea cutiei înainte de a fi vândut, ca o garanţie a autenticităţii.
Toate aceste măsuri survin în condiţiile în care Comisia Europeană, Interpol,
Europol şi Agenţiile Naţionale de resort au sesizat de-a lungul timpului mai
multe medicamente falsificate şi au închis sute de site-uri ilegale în fiecare
an.

2 August 2019
October 8, 2018 UPDATE

REFERENDUM – 21.10% of the Romanian eligible voters took part in the referendum for rephrasing the constitutional definition of family as being based on the marriage of a man and a woman, rather than of “spouses, as it is at present. According to final data provided by the Central Election Bureau, the voter turnout in the 2 days of the vote, Saturday and Sunday, was below the validation threshold. To be validated, the referendum needed a minimum 30% turnout. Out of the participants in the referendum, some 91.5% voted in favour of changing the Constitution article, and only 6.5% voted against. The bill revising the Constitution was passed in Parliament and was based on a citizen initiative signed by 3 million people. On the other hand, the minister delegate for European Affairs Victor Negrescu announced that a bill regulating civil partnership will be tabled to Parliament next week. The bill is finalized, and it has been discussed with partners in political parties and civil society, Negrescu said.

INTERVIEW – The Prosecutor Department of the Higher Magistracy Council in Romania Monday issued a negative opinion on Adina Florea, nominated by the Justice Minister, Tudorel Toader, for the position of chief prosecutor of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate. The Councils opinion is consultative, and the appointment decision must be made by President Klaus Iohannis. In the project with which she applied for the post, Adina Florea says that, apart from the good things, the activity of anti-corruption prosecutors in recent years also comprised deviations from the requirements of the rule of law. The office of chief prosecutor of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate has been vacant since July, when Laura Codruţa Kovesi was removed from office by President Klaus Iohannis, who was forced to implement a Constitutional Court ruling. In this respect as well, the Higher Council of Magistracy issued a negative consultative report.

MOTION – The Chamber of Deputies Monday debated a simple motion filed by the National Liberal Party, in opposition, against Economy Minister Danut Andrusca. The Liberals accuse Andrusca of deliberately destabilizing the country’s economy. According to the motion text, “industrial activity failed nearly to zero in August, the lowest level since February, economic growth is offset by inflation and managers expectations for the next 6 months remain pessimistic. Meanwhile, Liberal Deputies also filed on Monday a simple motion against the Culture Minister George Ivascu, whom they accuse of being unable to coordinate the historical celebration of December 1, when Romania marks the Union Centennial.

HEARING – The High Court of Cassation and Justice Monday postponed for November 5th the first hearing in the appeal filed by Social-Democrat leader and Chamber of Deputies Speaker Liviu Dragnea against a 3-and-a-half-year prison sentence from the court of first instance. In June, the court handed Dragnea this sentence for instigation to abuse of office. Anticorruption prosecutors say Liviu Dragnea ordered the fictitious employment of two party members at the Social Assistance and Child Protection Directorate. The two were paid with taxpayer money, although they allegedly worked exclusively for the Social-Democratic Party. Liviu Dragnea denied the accusations. In 2016, Dragnea was handed a suspended 2-year prison sentence for attempted election fraud. This summer the High Court cancelled the ruling to suspend the prison sentence. Dragnea is also prosecuted for abuse of office in 2 other cases, one of them re-opened last week, further to reports coming from the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).

JUDICIARY – The Romanian Supreme Court postponed for November 5 an appeal filed by the National Anti-Corruption Directorate against the acquittal of constitutional court judge Toni Grebla. In May, a Constitutional Court 3-judge panel dismissed the charges against Grebla, who had been indicted in 2015 for influence peddling, forgery, financial operations incompatible with his office, and setting up an organised crime group. In a government re-shuffling announced for October, Toni Greblă might become a secretary general of the Government. The president of the Social Democratic Party in power, Liviu Dragnea, proposed Grebla for this office in a late September meeting of the partys National Executive Committee.

EUROPEAN WEEK OF REGIONS – The 2018 edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities started in Brussels on Monday, in the presence of European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Corina Cretu, the head of the European Committee of the Regions, Karl-Heinz Lambertsz and European Parliament vice-president, Pavel Telicka. This year’s edition is a special one, devoted to the European Commission’s cohesion policy proposal for 2021-2027. Decision-makers and local, regional, national and European experts will take part in a series of debates as part of the most important event devoted to cohesion policies at European level.

NOBEL – The Nobel Prize in Economics was awarded this year to the Americans William Nordhaus and Paul Romer, for integrating climate change and technological innovation into long-run macroeconomic analysis. The Nobel in economics was introduced in 1968 by Swedens Central Bank and was first granted in 1969. Unlike the other Nobel prizes, which are funded by the Nobel Foundation, this award is financed by the Central Bank of Sweden. The 2018 Nobel season has concluded with the award of this last prize.

INTERPOL – The Interpol chief, Meng Hongwei, is probed into for bribe taking and other alleged offences, Chinas Ministry of State Security announced on Monday. Beijing confirmed that Meng Hongwei, who is also the deputy Minister for State Security in China, has resigned as Interpol chief. Meng Hongwei, 64, was announced missing last week, while on a trip to his home country. The Interpol will elect a new president at the General Assembly scheduled for next week in Dubai.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

8 October 2018
October 6, 2018

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT – The European Parliament has approved a report proposing new rules for freezing and confiscating the proceeds of crimes. The new regulation will allow for quicker and more efficient implementation of confiscation and asset freeze orders, as well as tighter deadlines for authorities and standard certificates for all EU member states. Experts estimate that offenders keep 98% of the proceeds of criminal activities. The EP report estimates that criminal activities generate around 110 billion euros per year. A 2016 EUROPOL report shows that only 2.2% of the money generated by criminal activities has been frozen or confiscated. At present, cross-border asset confiscation within the EU is regulated by several regulations containing major loopholes that criminals and terrorists take advantage of.

REFERENDUM – Nearly 19 million Romanian voters are invited today and tomorrow to vote on a proposed redefinition of the concept of family in the Constitution. The initiators aim to define “family as an institution based on the marriage of a man and a woman, rather than the marriage of spouses, as it is at present. According to data released by the Central Electoral Bureau, in the first 3 hours of the vote 0.97% of the total eligible voters showed up in polls. 100,860 votes were reported in towns and cities and 77,081 in communities. According to the Bureau, 0.85% of the voters registered in Bucharest have cast their ballots, while 3,346 Romanian citizens have voted abroad. Parliament has passed a bill rephrasing the Constitutional definition of marriage, based on a citizen initiative signed by 3 million people. The referendum sparked fiery debates between the initiators, a Christian coalition primarily supported by the Romanian Orthodox Church, and the promoters of sexual minority rights. The Romanians living abroad can vote in 378 polls hosted by diplomatic missions, consular offices, cultural institutes and other locations. The largest number of polls abroad will be in Italy, Spain, the Republic of Moldova, the USA, UK, France and Germany. The vote in the diaspora started on Friday night in Auckland, New Zealand. On the whole, the vote abroad will take 58 hours. The voting process abroad will conclude on the US West Coast and in Canada on Monday morning, according to Romanian time. The referendum will be validated provided that a 30% turnout rate is met and 25% of the eligible voters cast valid votes.

SOPRANO – World-famous Spanish soprano Montserrat Caballé died on Saturday at the age of 85, in a hospital in Barcelona where she had been admitted a month ago, the BBC reports. With a career spanning 50 years, Montserrat Caballé performed on some of the worlds greatest stages, alongside such personalities as Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo. Together with Freddie Mercury she sang the hit Barcelona, which was the anthem of the 1992 Olympics hosted by the Spanish city.

INTERPOL – French police are investigating the disappearance of the Interpol chief, Meng Hongwei, the French Interior Ministry told Reuters on Friday. Mengs wife reported him missing at the headquarters of the international police organisation in Lyon, because she had not heard from him since September 25. The Interpol chiefs wife and 3 children are under police protection, after they received threats over the telephone and social media, the French Interior Ministry also said. Meng, 64, was appointed head of the Interpol in 2016. He went missing during a visit to China.

FINANCIAL – The Romanian Ministry for Finances has recently drawn 1.75 billion euros, through a Eurobond issue in international financial markets. The largest part of the bonds, amounting to 1.15 billion euros, has a 10-year maturity, and the remaining have 20-year maturity. According to Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici, the issue clearly reflects the positive international perception of the Romanian economys medium and long-term prospects. The strong demand and the quality of the investors confirm Romanias strengths, namely the sound macroeconomic foundation, coherent fiscal discipline and economic-financial stability. Teodorovici added that the Eurobond issue is designed to strengthen the State Treasurys foreign currency reserve and to minimise long term borrowing costs.

HANDBALL – The Romanian side AHC Dobrogea Sud Constanţa is playing today against Talent Robstav MAT Plzen, of the Czech Republic, in the first leg of the second preliminary round of the EHF Cup in mens handball. Yesterday, Romanias womens handball champions, CSM Bucharest, defeated at home, 36-31, the Hungarian team FTC Rail Cargo, in Group D of the new Champions League season. It is for the 4th consecutive time that CSM takes part in the leading continental competition. The first time, in 2016, the Romanian handballers won the Champions League trophy, and in the following editions they came out 3rd in the Final Four.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

6 October 2018
October 5, 2018 UPDATE

REFERENDUM — Nearly 19 million Romanian voters are invited on Saturday and Sunday to vote on a proposed redefinition of the concept of family in the Constitution. The initiators aim to define “family” as an institution based on the marriage of a man and a woman, rather than the marriage of spouses, as it is at present. The Parliament has passed a bill in this respect, based on a citizen initiative for which 3 million signatures have been raised. The referendum sparked fiery debates between the initiators, a Christian coalition primarily supported by the Romanian Orthodox Church, and the supporters of sexual minority rights. The Romanians living abroad may vote in 378 polls hosted by diplomatic missions, consular offices, cultural institutes and other locations. The largest number of polls abroad will be in Italy, Spain, the Republic of Moldova, the USA, UK, France and Germany. The referendum will be validated provided that at least 25% of the eligible voters cast valid votes.

MEETING – Hungary supports Romania’s efforts to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Friday. The Hungarian official had a meeting on Friday with the Romanian Minister for the Business Environment, Trade and Entrepreneurship, Stefan Radu Oprea, on which occasion they discussed topics of mutual interest. Péter Szijjártó said Romania is his country’s second largest export market for which reason Hungary is interested in strengthening cooperation with Romania in a number of sectors.

JUDICIARY — The former tourism minister Elena Udrea and the former chief of the anti-mafia prosecutor’s office (DIICOT) Alina Bica, will be detained for 2 months pending an extradition decision, said on Thursday the Interpol office in Costa Rica, where the 2 were apprehended. They had both filed asylum applications in that country. Elena Udrea has received a final 6-year prison sentence from the Supreme Court for bribe taking and abuse of office. The former head of the Directorate Investigating Organised Crime, Alina Bica, was in turn sentenced to 4 years in prison for aiding and abetting. Udrea and Bica are not the only former high-level officials that have fled the country to escape prison sentences for corruption offences. This is the case with the former mayor of Constanta, Radu Mazare, who is in Madagascar at present, and the former MP Sebastian Ghita, currently in Serbia.

NOBEL — The Congolese gynecologist Denis Mukwege, who treated sex violence victims in his home country, and Nadia Murad, a Kurdish human rights activist having survived Islamic State sexual slavery, are the winners of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Nobel Committee explained that it has awarded the 2 “for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war”. Both had a crucial contribution to raising awareness with respect to this type of war crimes and in fighting them. The Nobel season ends this Monday with the award of the Economy Prize in Stockholm.

EDUCATION – UNESCO estimates that 69 million teachers are still needed around the world, in order to reach the education targets set for the year 2030. The shortage of teaching staff particularly affects vulnerable categories, girls, children with disabilities, refugees and migrants, children from poor rural communities or isolated areas, the organisation warns on the International Education Day, celebrated on Friday in Romania as well. In her message, PM Viorica Dăncilă said education is a chance for individual development and the foundation of a strong, developed country, with a voice heard at international level, like Romania. In turn, President Klaus Iohannis emphasised that the education system must provide youth with the skills required in the labour market, including in terms of adjusting to the challenges of a digital society.

FRIGATE — “King Ferdinand” frigate is, as of Friday, under the Allied Sea Command (MARCOM) and carries out sea traffic surveillance missions in the Mediterranean, as part of Operation Sea Guardian, the Romanian Defence Ministry announced. Operation Sea Guardian was launched following the NATO Summit in Warsaw in 2016, to discourage threats against NATO partners, the said source added. The 240-strong crew of “King Ferdinand” frigate will conduct missions in the Mediterranean, thus confirming Romania’s status as a security provider holding operational platforms deployable in various unstable regions in the world, where NATO military presence is required for security reasons. The frigate will conclude its missions in the Mediterranean in late October.

GUAM — Chisinau hosted on Friday a meeting of the Organisation for Democracy and Economic Development — GUAM heads of government. The organisation comprises the former Soviet republics of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and the Republic of Moldova. Participants discussed topics of mutual interest for the member states, with a view to improving cooperation between the 4 states. Moldovan PM Pavel Filip announced the initiation of talks regarding the setting up of a free trade area between the four states, of a common transport corridor and the prospect of removing roaming tariffs. The Moldovan official also emphasized the importance of cooperation in ensuring peace in the region. On the sidelines of the summit, the Moldovan PM Pavel Filip had meetings with his counterpart in Ukraine and Georgia, Volodimir Groisman and Mamuka Bakhtadze, and with the deputy PM of Azerbaijan, Ali Akhmedov. The Republic of Moldova this year is holding the rotating presidency of GUAM, an organisation created in 1997 as an alternative to the Community of Independent States.

5 October 2018
October 5, 2018

REFERENDUM – Nearly 19 million Romanian voters are invited on Saturday and Sunday to vote on a proposed redefinition of the concept of family in the Constitution. The initiators aim to define “family as an institution based on the marriage of a man and a woman, rather than the marriage of spouses, as it is at present. The Parliament has passed a bill in this respect, based on a citizen initiative for which 3 million signatures have been raised. The referendum sparked fiery debates between the initiators, a Christian coalition primarily supported by the Romanian Orthodox Church, and the supporters of sexual minority rights. The Romanians living abroad may vote in 378 polls hosted by diplomatic missions, consular offices, cultural institutes and other locations. The largest number of polls abroad will be in Italy, Spain, the Republic of Moldova, the USA, UK, France and Germany. The referendum will be validated provided that at least 25% of the eligible voters cast valid votes.

JUDICIARY – The former tourism minister Elena Udrea and the former chief of the anti-mafia prosecutors office (DIICOT) Alina Bica, will be detained for 2 months pending an extradition decision, said on Thursday the Interpol office in Costa Rica, where the 2 were apprehended. They had both filed asylum applications in that country. Elena Udrea has received a final 6-year prison sentence from the Supreme Court for bribe taking and abuse of office. The former head of the Directorate Investigating Organised Crime, Alina Bica, was in turn sentenced to 4 years in prison for aiding and abetting. Udrea and Bica are not the only former high-level officials that have fled the country to escape prison sentences for corruption offences. This is the case with the former mayor of Constanta, Radu Mazare, who is in Madagascar at present, and the former MP Sebastian Ghita, currently in Serbia.

NOBEL – The Congolese gynecologist Denis Mukwege, who treated sex violence victims in his home country, and Nadia Murad, a Kurdish human rights activist having survived Islamic State sexual slavery, are the winners of this years Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Nobel Committee explained that it has awarded the 2 “for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. Both had a crucial contribution to raising awareness with respect to this type of war crimes and in fighting them. The Nobel season ends this Monday with the award of the Economy Prize in Stockholm.

EDUCATION – UNESCO estimates that 69 million teachers are still needed around the world, in order to reach the education targets set for the year 2030. The shortage of teaching staff particularly affects vulnerable categories, girls, children with disabilities, refugees and migrants, children from poor rural communities or isolated areas, the organisation warns on the International Education Day, celebrated today in Romania as well. In her message, PM Viorica Dăncilă said education is a chance for individual development and the foundation of a strong, developed country, with a voice heard at international level, like Romania. In turn, President Klaus Iohannis emphasised that the education system must provide youth with the skills required in the labour market, including in terms of adjusting to the challenges of a digital society.

FRIGATE – “King Ferdinand frigate is, as of Friday, under the Allied Sea Command (MARCOM) and carries out sea traffic surveillance missions in the Mediterranean, as part of Operation Sea Guardian, the Romanian Defence Ministry announced. Operation Sea Guardian was launched following the NATO Summit in Warsaw in 2016, to discourage threats against NATO partners, the said source added. The 240-strong crew of “King Ferdinand frigate will conduct missions in the Mediterranean, thus confirming Romanias status as a security provider holding operational platforms deployable in various unstable regions in the world, where NATO military presence is required for security reasons. The frigate will conclude its missions in the Mediterranean in late October.

GUAM – Chisinau is hosting today a meeting of the Organisation for Democracy and Economic Development – GUAM heads of government. The organisation comprises the former Soviet republics of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and the Republic of Moldova. Participants will discuss topics of mutual interest for the member states, with a view to improving cooperation between the 4 states, and will sign a cooperation protocol in the field of customs, Chisinau announced. On the sidelines of the summit, the Moldovan PM Pavel Filip will have meetings with his counterpart in Ukraine and Georgia, Volodimir Groisman and Mamuka Bakhtadze, and with the deputy PM of Azerbaijan, Ali Akhmedov. The Republic of Moldova this year is holding the rotating presidency of GUAM, an organisation created in 1997 as an alternative to the Community of Independent States.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

5 October 2018
A la Une de la presse roumaine 04.10.2018

Le fisc s’active et s’apprête à envoyer des avis d’imposition à tous les contribuables roumains concernés. Les sommes à payer seront très importantes, s’inquiète Adevarul. Tout cela dans un contexte de majoration des prix, ajoute le Journal financier. Pour sa part, Gandul annonce qu’Interpol a arrêté au Costa Rica l’ex ministre du Tourisme, Elena Udrea et l’ancienne cheffe de la Direction de l’enquête sur le crime organisé et le terrorisme, Alina Bica.

4 October 2018
Nachrichten 21.09.2016

Präsident Klaus Iohannis hat den Oberbefehlshaber des für die Wandlung und Anpassung der NATO zuständigen Kommandobereichs, den französischen General Denis Mercier, in Bukarest empfangen. Bei dem Treffen begrüßten die beiden Amtsträger die Entscheidungen des NATO-Gipfels in Warschau vergangenen Juli. Vor allem die Stärkung der Verteidigung und der Einheit im Rahmen des nordatlantischen Militärbündnisses wurde dabei gewürdigt. Rumäniens Staatschef betonte ferner die Notwendigkeit anhaltender Antrengungen vonseiten der NATO, die sich die Sicherheit und Stabilität am Schwarzen Meer auf die Fahnen geschrieben hat. Der französische General hob im Gegenzug die besondere Bedeutung der praktischen Zusammenarbeit zwischen den Alliierten hervor. Gemeinsame Ausbildungsmaßnahmen und multinationale Übungen seien für eine bessere Interoperabilität der Streitkräfte wichtig. Das wiederum würde die Reaktionskapazität der NATO angesichts der neuen Herausforderungen verbessern, so Mercier.

Ministerpräsident Dacian Cioloş trifft sich im Laufe des Tages in New York mit dem Bundespräsidenten der Schweiz, Johann Schneider-Ammann, Palästinenserchef Mahmoud Abbas und den Vertretern der rumänischen Gemeinschaft in New York. Cioloş hält sich seit Dienstag in den USA auf, um an der Sitzung der UN-Generalversammlung teilzunehmen. Am Dienstag hatte der Regierungschef seinen kanadischen Kollegen Justin Trudeau getroffen. Hauptthema bei dem Gespräch war die Aufhebung der Visumspflicht für rumänische Staatsbürger. Der Ministerpräsident hatte in New York auch weitere bilaterale Treffen. Am Vorabend hatte Cioloş an einem Gipfel zu Flüchtlingsthemen teilgenommen, der von dem amerikanischen Präsidenten Barack Obama einberufen worden war. Dort erklärte er, dass Rumänien sich der gemeinsamen Verantwortung angesichts der starken Migrationsströme vollkommen stelle. Cioloş erinnerte abschließend daran, dass Rumänien den betroffenen Ländern bereits humanitäre Hilfe gewährt habe. Dazu hören Sie mehr nach den Nachrichten.

Der Europa-Ausschuss der Abgeordnetenkammer hat in einer Stellungnahme den Sanktionsvorschlag des Europäischen Rates als Lösung für die Verteilung von Flüchtlingen abgelehnt. Demnach sollten EU-Mitgliedsländer, die die Aufnahme von Flüchtlingen gemäß dem vereinbarten Verteilungsschlüssel verweigern, mit Strafen in Höhe von 250.000 Euro pro Einwanderer entmutigt werden. Die Vorsitzende des Europa-Ausschusses, Ana Birchall, bezeichnete den Vorschlag mehrmals als inakzeptabel. Die Sanktionen würden die Grundfrage nicht beantworten und die Staatengemeinschaft in eine noch tiefere Krise führen. Sie erinnerte daran, dass Rumänien den zweitgrößten Beitrag zu den Einsätzen der Grenzschutzagentur Frontex leistet. Außerdem sei das Land auch an den Missionen von Interpol, Europol und des Europäischen Büros für Asylhilfe beteiligt.

In Rumänien sind in den ersten acht Monaten des Jahres 675 Fälle von Masernerkrankungen in 23 Landkreisen gemeldet worden. Zwei erkrankte Kinder starben, berichtete das Gesundheitsministerium am Mittwoch. Bei einem dritten Todesopfer ist der Verdacht auf Masern noch nicht bestätigt. Der plötzliche Ausbruch der Masernfälle im Vergleich zu 2015 sei mehr als besorgniserregend. Im letzten Jahr hatte es nur 7 bestätigte Fälle von Masern und keinen Todesfall gegeben. Das Gesundheitsministerium appelliert an die Eltern, die Impfvorgaben zu respektieren. In den betroffenen Gebieten empfiehlt das Nationale Institut für Öffentliche Gesundheit eine Masernimpfung für Babies im Alter von 7 Monaten und eine Wiederholung der Impfung ab dem zwölften Lebensmonat.

21 September 2016
19.05.2015 (mise à jour)

Interpol — La lutte contre le terrorisme international est un défi mondial qui exige un effort concerté de la part de tous les pays, les délits transfrontaliers étant une menace importante pour la sécurité de toute nation, a déclaré mardi le ministre roumain de lIntérieur, Gabriel Oprea. Il sexprimait lors de la 43e édition de la Conférence régionale européenne de l’Interpol, accueillie par Bucarest. Pour sa part, le secrétaire général dInterpol, Jürgen Stock, a précisé que la sécurité internationale se voit confronter, que jamais, à de nombreuses menaces. La migration illégale, la cyber-criminalité ou le flux de combattants étrangers sont des “dangers majeurs” pour la stabilité de lEurope mais pas seulement. Selon les chiffres de lONU, une vingtaine de milliers de combattants étrangers, issus dune centaine de pays et munis de passeports volés, ont transité lEurope vers les zones de conflit du Moyen Orient. A la réunion de Bucarest participent des délégués de 50 pays, ainsi que des représentants d’organisations internationales. Trois jours durant, les représentants des polices d’Europe évoqueront non seulement les problèmes actuels auxquels se confronte la société moderne, mais aussi la sécurité cybernétique.

Défense – Les ministres roumain et moldave de la Défense, Mircea Duşa et respectivement Viorel Cibotaru, se sont rencontrés à Bucarest pour évoquer notamment la dynamisation du dialogue politico-militaire entre la Roumanie et la Moldova ex-soviétique. Mircea Duşa a réaffirmé la disponibilité de Bucarest daccorder de lassistance technique et logistique à la République de Moldova afin que cette dernière renforce sa capacité de défense. Les deux responsables ont par ailleurs parlé des solutions disponibles pour faciliter la participation de la Moldova aux opérations et aux missions déroulées sous légide de lUE.

MCV – Des experts de la Commission européenne se trouvent à Bucarest pour évaluer les progrès de la Roumanie dans le cadre du Mécanisme de Coopération et de Vérification pour la justice. Mardi, ils se sont entretenu avec les représentants du Conseil supérieur de la magistrature, du ministère de la Justice, du Parquet général et de la Haute Cour de cassation et de justice au sujet de la réforme de la justice roumaine et de la lutte anti-corruption. Par la suite, avec les sénateurs et les députés des Commissions juridiques des deux chambres du Parlement, les experts européens ont évoqué la modification des Codes pénal et de procédure pénale ainsi que la révision de la Constitution.

Justice – Daniel Horodniceanu est le nouveau procureur en chef de la Direction dinvestigation des délits liés au crime organisé et au terrorisme (DIICOT), après que le président Klaus Iohannis a avalisé le décret de nomination en ce sens. Daniel Horodniceanu a un mandat de trois ans à ce poste, selon la Présidence de la République. Le procureur a été proposé à ces fonctions, le 9 avril dernier, par le ministre de la Justice, Robert Cazanciuc, en remplacement de lex-procureure en chef, Alina Bica, arrêtée dans une affaire de corruption.

Minorités – Les minorités ethniques ont toujours représenté un facteur conséquent de stabilité au sein du système politique roumain, tout au long des 25 dernières années, a estimé le président roumain, Klaus Iohannis, lors dune entrevue avec les membres du Groupe des minorités nationales de la Chambre des Députés du Parlement de Bucarest. Ces derniers ont évoqué devant le chef de lEtat le besoin dun projet collectif pour la Roumanie qui soit assumé par lensemble de la société, ainsi que la nécessité de garder les identités ethniques, détudier en langue maternelle et daccorder la citoyenneté roumaine aux personnes ayant étudié jadis en Roumanie. Les élus parlementaires des minorités nationales ont également parlé de la restitution des propriétés des communautés ethniques et religieuses abusivement confisquées par le régime communiste et de la mise en place dun cadre légal efficace pour la protection des monuments historiques.

Bookfest – Le 10e Salon international du livre Bookfest ouvre ses portes mercredi, à Bucarest. Cinq jours durant, quelque 200 maisons dédition proposeront au public plus dun million de titres, dont quatre mille inédits. 300 événements sont également prévus jusquà la fin de cette semaine, dont des lancements de livres, des débats, des projections cinématographiques et ainsi de suite. Linvitée dhonneur de cette édition est la République Tchèque.

Tennis – Le joueur de tennis roumain, Marius Copil (207 WTA) sest entré mardi au deuxième tour des qualifications pour le tableau principal du Tournoi de Roland Garros. Il a eu raison, en trois sets, du Portugais Pedro Sousa (838e mondial). Dans la compétition féminine, la Roumanie sera représentée par plusieurs joueuses, dont Simona Halep (numéro 3 mondiale), celle qui avait disputé la finale de Roland Garros avec la Russe Maria Sharapova, devant laquelle elle sétait dailleurs inclinée.

Météo – Temps beau et plutôt chaud en Roumanie, avec un ciel couvert seulement sur louest et le nord-ouest du pays, ou quelques orages devraient faire leur apparition. En montagne, on attend également jusquà une quinzaine de litres deau par mètre carré ainsi que de la grêle. Les maximales de lair devraient sencadrer entre 24 et 32 degrés.

19 May 2015